Icebergs seen from a boat in the Ilulissat Icefjord. Photo credit: Mark Carey
Core items:
- In 2014 and 2019, scientists attached GPS devices to 13 icebergs and tracked hourly position changes as they migrated through the Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland.
- Circulation in the primary fjord was influenced by freshwater flow from adjacent tributary fjords, providing important insights for climate models.
- Understanding the dynamic behavior of ice sheets impacts climate and ecosystems even 2,000 miles away.
The warming climate and ocean temperatures have changed the Greenland ice sheet, but measuring how water is moving and melting the ice sheet has been a challenge because floating icebergs can destroy equipment. Now researchers have used a novel approach to gain new information about seawater circulation patterns around glaciers. Their findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, could improve the accuracy of climate models.
During the summers of 2014 and 2019, scientists attached GPS devices to 13 icebergs and tracked hourly changes in their positions as they traveled through the Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland. They found that circulation in the primary fjord was influenced by freshwater flow from adjacent tributary fjords. The effects of this current are important for circulation models, ranging from studying ocean currents to predicting the rate of sea level rise.
In addition, these findings will be useful for other research related to fjord circulation, including material transport in water. The research team believes that as the climate warms, it will become increasingly important to have accurate data for predictive models that reflect the changing environment.
“Glaciers have changed global climates and ecosystems for millions of years,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine. “Novel research from our world-renowned climate scientists is providing greater insight into how they interact with their environment and plays a critical role in predicting our climate future.”
The Greenland ice sheet examined in this study is constantly changing and influencing the local and global climate. The behavior of frozen fjords 2,000 miles north of Maine can affect New England seafood cuisine and coastal storms.
“Everything is connected,” said lead author Sydney Barrata of UMaine. “Changes in the Arctic can have impacts that impact what we see in Maine.”
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