A new study indicates a stunning rate of ice loss of Greenland, which threatens the stability of one of the most important icy planet shields. Scientists warn that this trend can bring the ice closer to the "point of non -return", after which it will fall into the ocean, which will have catastrophic consequences for sea level.
The ice hats of the Earth play an important role in protecting the planet from dangerous solar radiation and stability of sea level. However, in the conditions of accelerated climate warming, these natural barriers face new threats. Studies show that the icy cover of Greenland loses ice masses at an outstanding rate, the loss is about 33 million tons of ice every hour. Scientists say that increasing the temperature on the planet by 2 degrees Celsius can lead to an irreversible process of melting, which can cause an increase in sea level by 7 meters. This will cause enormous changes in ecosystems and threats to billions of people living along the coasts.
Greenland and Antarctica Ice Pysths contain more than 70% of the Earth's fresh water, and both shields lose weight at an accelerated rate due to anthropogenic climate change factors. Since 1994, Greenland and Antarctica have lost 6.9 trillion tons of ice. This indicates a real threat, but scientists hope that when measures are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is still a chance to avoid complete collapse. New climate models indicate that the "non -return point" can occur when the annual loss of ice will exceed 230 hyigon. Such a scenario involves global warming at 3.4 degrees Celsius, which can be a reality by the end of the century in the absence of changes in the policy of combating climate change.
If Greenland's icy shield melts completely, it can lead to dramatic consequences not only for the sea level, but also for the global ocean currents, which will cause serious changes in the planet's climatic system.
