What will further melting of glaciers in Greenland lead to?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

Unfortunately, since the signing of the Kyoto Treaty, the situation with the climate on our planet has remained difficult. Moreover, over the past half century, it has worsened significantly, as the rate of ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica has accelerated significantly.

The melting of the glaciers of Greenland, which has not yet been recorded on our planet, is of particular concern to scientists. Experts report that over the past 30 years of observations, the rate of ice melting has increased so much that in a few years Greenland can rightfully be called the "green island", since there may not be any ice left on it.

There is also concern that even at the highest points of this amazing island, where the ice has not melted for millennia, glaciers have also been melting. It is reported that if earlier the percentage of melting was no more than 40%, now it has increased to 97%. The worst thing is that scientists simply cannot explain the nature of this phenomenon.

Somewhat reassuring is the fact that the ice is partly recovering, but this is happening far from the speed it was before. Almost every day, more and more pieces break off from the ice shell of Greenland.ice, the dimensions of which in most cases are truly enormous. The area of one of these icebergs, which is currently drifting off the coast of Canada, exceeds 200 square meters. km!

What does all this threaten our planet with? The worst thing is that the melting of glaciers in 2012 could cause a catastrophic rise in the level of the World Ocean. Scientists predict that after the complete melting of the Greenland ice, it can grow immediately by 6 meters. At the same time, you need to understand that raising the level by only a meter is fraught with incredible disasters. If the melting of the glaciers continues at the same pace, then humanity will have a hard time.

Especially pessimistic scientists predict the possibility of a sharp displacement of tectonic plates due to their rapid release from under that incredible mass that has been pressing on them for more than one millennium. If these predictions come true, then the melting of glaciers may trigger the emergence of a second “ring of fire” of volcanoes on the planet. Only this time, the centers of eruptions will not be in the relatively safe Pacific Ocean for us, but right off the coast of Europe.

Can such horrific consequences be prevented? Unfortunately, only partly. We will not be able to stop the ongoing process of the disappearance of ice on the planet completely. In any case, with the current level of technology development. In addition, we cannot say for sure what caused such a rate of ice disappearance: human activity or other reasons unknown to us.

We can only carefully observe the melting of glaciers and take timely measures to evacuate people from the most dangerous coastal settlements and cities. An important role will be played by the constant work of seismologists, who can confirm or refute theories about the displacement of tectonic plates.