News Climate

Expanding ice slabs are increasing Greenland’s contribution to sea level rise

Hard layers of frozen meltwater force new melting water directly into the sea

ice core drilling

Ice cores drilled in 2012 into the Greenland ice sheet revealed large, meters-thick ice slabs beneath the snow.

Babis Charalampidis/Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Germany, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (© 2012 GEUS)

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Hidden slabs of frozen meltwater have grown rapidly beneath Greenland’s snowy surface since 2001, scientists say.