In a series of remarkable events, Greenland, typically known for its icy and cold temperatures, recorded an astonishing 7 billion tons of rainfall, an event that had never been recorded before. This extraordinary precipitation occurred on the mountaintop of Greenland, at an altitude of about two miles, where temperatures soared above freezing for the third time in less than a decade. This unusual weather phenomenon has alerted scientists and environmentalists as it marks a significant change in the climate dynamics of this frozen region, highlighting the urgent need for climate awareness.
Greenland’s Record Rainfall and its Implications
The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that this is the largest rainfall on the Greenland ice sheet since records began in 1950. In the long run, the rainfall is enough to fill the reflecting pool of the National Mall in Washington D.C., nearly 250000 times! The astonishing amount of water not only highlights the severity of the event, but also highlights the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic region due to climate change.
Ted Scambos, a senior exploration researcher at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, emphasized the exceptional nature of this precipitation, saying, “What’s going on isn’t just a few warm years in a fluctuating climate pattern. This is unprecedented.” The impact of this precipitation isn’t just measurable data; they pointed out that Greenland is warming at an alarming rate, which is a worrying trend that demands immediate attention.
The National Science Foundation Summit Station, located at the highest point of the Greenland ice sheet, has been observing extreme weather changes in the Arctic since 1989. Jennifer Mercer, a project officer at the National Science Foundation’s Polar Program Office, pointed out that this significant precipitation event requires a reassessment of the operational protocols for the summit station. She said, “This means we need to consider weather events that we have never dealt with in the history of our operations there, making it a critical moment for our climate response.”
Rainfall events have a lasting impact on the nature of snow, forming a layer of ice crust that will absorb more energy from the sun until it is buried by subsequent snowfall. This kind of crust can also hinder the downward discharge of meltwater, leading to flooding on the surface of ice sheets in high-altitude areas. Mercer pointed out that this event will be visible in future ice core records, marking an important moment in Greenland’s climate history and emphasizing the need for ongoing climate monitoring.
The Broader Impact and Urgent Need for Action
The impact of this rainfall is profound, as the Greenland ice sheet is the second largest ice sheet on Earth, and if it melts, its ice content is enough to raise global sea levels by more than 7 meters. It is worrying that the quality of ice sheets is rapidly declining, accounting for about 60% of the overall sea level rise on Earth due to their melting. The recent United Nations climate report emphasizes that human-caused climate change has led to a significant reduction in glaciers in Greenland over the past two decades, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.
With temperatures in the Arctic rising at twice the rate of other regions on Earth, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent. This month’s rainfall is due to warm and humid air rising from the southwest and staying over Greenland for a few days. The highest temperature at the mountaintop is 0.48 ° C, which results in rainfall rather than snowfall – a stark contrast to normal conditions in the region.
The impact of this rainfall goes beyond the direct weather patterns. Rainfall on ice exacerbates surface melting through a process called ‘ice albedo positive feedback’, in which darker ice absorbs more sunlight, leading to further melting. In addition, as the height of the ice sheet decreases and temperatures rise in low altitude areas, the “positive melting height feedback” accelerates melting.
The possibility of the climate system reaching a critical point is becoming increasingly concerning. Recent studies have shown that a significant portion of the Greenland ice sheet is approaching a critical point where melting will accelerate even if global warming stops. This may trigger cascading effects, leading to further instability of the climate system, which could have far-reaching consequences for the global environment.
When we witness these unprecedented changes happening in Greenland, the message is clear: urgent action is needed to address climate change. The window to limit global warming to 1.5°C is rapidly closing, and now is the time to listen to scientists’ opinions and take decisive action. The abnormal rainfall in Greenland clearly reminds us that our planet is fragile and urgent collective action is needed to protect our future. The whole world is paying attention, and we have a responsibility to respond with the serious attitude required by this crisis, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
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What Greenland’s record-breaking rain means for the planet
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