The Greenland ice sheet currently covers more than 1.7 million square kilometers, making it the largest freshwater reservoir in the Northern Hemisphere. It has lost more than a trillion tons of ice since the 1980s, with the rate of melting increasing sixfold in the past decade. A recent study revealed that an average of 30 million tons of ice is currently being lost every hour.

Melting ice is causing sea levels to rise and changes in ocean salinity, affecting both the marine ecosystem and coastal communities, with a predicted sea level rise of 7 meters if the ice sheet completely melts. Research published in The Cryosphere has identified a tipping point at which ice loss could become irreversible, leading to the complete melting of Greenland. This tipping point is associated with a global temperature increase of 3.4°C, with the current average temperature in 2024 exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The researchers found that topography and elevation play a key role in the ice mass balance. If the rate of melting exceeds the isostatic adjustment of the landscape, almost complete loss of Greenland's ice sheet could occur. In addition, ice loss reduces the surface albedo, which increases the absorption of solar radiation and accelerates melting.

The study also highlighted the importance of the western edge of the Greenland ice sheet, which can stabilize the entire ice sheet if it remains in a coastal area with high topography. Maintaining this edge is key to preventing complete loss of the ice sheet.

Researchers warn that climate change is bringing us closer to tipping points, and it is therefore essential to continue efforts to mitigate climate change to prevent dangerous temperature thresholds from being crossed. Spring