Samples from a secret army base suggest that Greenland’s ice disappeared 416,000 years ago, indicating a potential for faster melting than anticipated.
Samples from a secret army base suggest that Greenland's ice disappeared 416,000 years ago, indicating a potential for faster melting than anticipated.
Greenland’s Melting Ice: A Surprising Discovery with Dire Implications
In a groundbreaking study, it has been revealed that Greenland, which is currently covered in ice, was not always frozen in recent history. The data supporting this shocking revelation was obtained from long-lost ice cores, collected during a secret Cold War mission. These findings have significant implications for our climate, as they suggest that Greenland’s ice sheet could raise sea levels by more than 20 feet in the next century[^1^].
Drilling thousands of feet down through a massive layer of ice is no easy task. However, during the Cold War, the army saw this as an opportunity to mask their true intentions – burying nuclear missiles in Greenland’s ice sheet under the guise of collecting ice cores for scientific research, in a project called Project Iceworm. Although the army didn’t achieve the desired results, scientists managed to gather enough ice cores to gain valuable insights into Greenland’s ancient climate[^1^][^2^].
These ice cores also yielded something unexpected – 12 feet of sediment that lay beneath the ice sheet. While most scientists were only interested in the ice, these sediment cores, initially labeled and stored in cookie jars, were later forgotten. Recently, Danish scientists rediscovered these sediment cores and sent them to geologist Paul Bierman at the University of Vermont. The analysis conducted by Bierman’s team uncovered signs of life and the astonishing fact that Greenland’s ice had melted in the recent past[^2^][^6^].
The exact timing of Greenland’s melting ice sheet was determined by the research team, comprising 21 scientists, who published their findings in the journal Science. They discovered that 416,000 years ago, the ice sheet had melted and sea levels were significantly higher, ranging from five to 20 feet, compared to the frozen state of the sheet. These findings indicate that the current ice sheet is far more vulnerable to global warming than previously believed[^6^].
As Bierman and co-author Tammy Rittenour explained in The Conversation, “The ancient frozen soil from beneath Greenland’s ice sheet warns of trouble ahead.” This revelation challenges previous estimates, which placed the thawing of Greenland’s ice within the last million years, proving that the melting occurred much earlier, during a naturally warmer period of Earth’s climate cycle[^7^].
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By examining the gas content in the frozen samples, the researchers determined that greenhouse gas levels were lower during the period of melting compared to today. This discovery indicates that even moderate warming could lead to substantial ice melt in Greenland. Consequently, the ice sheet is projected to become increasingly sensitive to the changes caused by human-induced climate change[^8^].
While the complete melting of Greenland’s ice sheet may not occur immediately, it is expected to accelerate in the coming centuries, according to Bierman. The consequences of this melting would be catastrophic, with sea levels rising between five and more than 20 feet, as reported in the study. This raises concerns about the future of coastal cities such as Miami and the island of Manhattan[^9^].
To grasp the potential impact, Bierman uses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s sea level rise viewer. Visualizing the rising water slowly engulfing streets, then blocking access, and finally submerging neighborhoods is an alarming sight. With the viewer maxing out at ten feet, Bierman prompts us to imagine the consequences if the water levels rise even higher[^9^].
The findings of this study serve as a stark warning of the impending consequences of climate change. The sensitivity of Greenland’s ice sheet to temperature changes, coupled with the accelerating pace of global warming, necessitates urgent action to mitigate the devastating effects on our planet. As we strive to protect our environment and future generations, raising awareness about the fragile state of the ice sheet and advocating for sustainable solutions become paramount[^10^].
