News From the Field
Lakes of Meltwater Can Crack Greenland's Ice and Contribute to Faster Ice Sheet Flow

April 17, 2008

Researchers have for the first time documented the sudden and complete drainage of a lake of meltwater from the top of the Greenland ice sheet to its base. From those observations, scientists have uncovered a plumbing system for the ice sheet, where meltwater can penetrate thick, cold ice and accelerate some of the large-scale summer movements of the ice sheet. Full Story

Source
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

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