'This ice should not be cracking': Scientists baffled by Greenland’s rapid collapse
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Cracking Fast
New satellite data reveals Greenland’s ice crevasses are expanding at an alarming rate. Scientists now warn that the ice sheet’s response to climate change is more extreme than previously predicted.
Meltwater Infiltration
Rising ocean temperatures and surface melting allow water to seep into crevasses, forcing them deeper. This weakens the ice structure and accelerates glacier movement toward the ocean.
Glacier Acceleration
The faster flow of glaciers at Greenland’s edges feeds a dangerous cycle—ice cracks deepen, more meltwater enters, and the entire system speeds up, increasing the risk of massive ice loss.
Data Breakthrough
Dr. Tom Chudley of Durham University confirms that, for the first time, satellite imagery has mapped how rapidly these crevasses are growing across Greenland in just five years.
Feedback Loop
As ice flow increases, more icebergs break off into the ocean. Each calving event triggers more ice movement, fueling a chain reaction of continuous and irreversible loss.
Sea Level Threat
Professor Ian Howat of The Ohio State University warns that expanding crevasses are driving faster glacier motion, pushing more ice into the ocean and exacerbating global sea level rise.
Domino Effect
The more ice that melts, the faster crevasses grow. Scientists predict that unchecked ice loss could cause sea levels to rise up to a foot by 2100, impacting millions worldwide.
Global Alarm
Coastal cities and low-lying nations face an existential crisis as rising seas threaten infrastructure and displace populations. Greenland’s ice sheet is now a major tipping point in climate change.
Racing Time
Scientists are urgently refining sea level models to predict the full impact of Greenland’s accelerating ice loss. Without intervention, the pace of ice collapse could exceed worst-case projections.