Heavy rainfall in the Greenland ice sheet on July 28th, 2018, is the first time it has happened in recorded history. Scientists are concerned that this could be a sign of climate change and more extreme weather events to come.
The how much rain is a question that has been asked for a while. In 2017, the summit of Greenland received the heaviest rainfall for the first time.
Global warming is having an impact on Greenland. Its highest point is around two miles above sea level. It saw precipitation in the form of rain rather than snow for the first time ever. The temperature in the area had risen above freezing. This may have had a significant impact on the severe rain event.
According to CNN, this was the ice sheet’s highest rainfall since 1950. That is when the practice of keeping records started. The rain caused a far greater loss of ice mass than the daily norm at this time of year. According to Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist, this showed the rate at which Greenland was succumbing to global warming.
It was “unprecedented,” he said. Former US President Donald Trump saw Greenland as a valuable asset in August 2019.
Fossil fuel combustion contributes to Greenland melting.
The National Science Foundation’s Summit Station is situated at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet. Scientists have selected this location to keep watch on Arctic weather and ice changes. It has been there since 1989, and the crew is responsible for monitoring severe changes in the environment from this vantage point. The authorities were obliged to reorganize their operations due to the rains. Jennifer Mercer is a program officer for the organization. The big rain event, she believes, may force modifications to the current arrangement.
Greenland has experienced an increase in weather occurrences over the past decade, and their frequency is on the rise, according to CNN. A news report from August of the previous year indicated that the melting of Greenland’s ice sheets had reached a point of no return. A recent UN climate study found that the combustion of fossil fuels was a contributing role in the melting of Greenland ice during the previous two decades.
The world must move to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. As a result, greenhouse gases are produced, which contribute to global warming. Some nations want to replace fossil-fuel cars with electric ones.
Since the mid-1990s, Greenland has lost massive quantities of ice.
The Greenland ice sheet was subjected to melting episodes in July, which resulted in significant ice loss. The spring season in 2019 was hot, with a heatwave in July. As a consequence of the melting ice, worldwide sea levels rose 1.5 millimeters (0.0590551 inches). Ted Scambos warns that reversing the trend would need a shift in global mindset. “Other odd occurrences have grown more common, too,” Mercer says. Her sighting of polar bears at the Summit Station is mentioned on CNN. It was odd since they had to go hundreds of kilometers interior despite living in coastal areas where food was plentiful. Melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland send out signals about our planet’s health.
Greenland’s rains came as a shock.
The Greenland peak got several hours of rain, according to USA Today. It was an uncommon event for temperatures to rise above freezing. The scorching heat lasted more than nine hours. This was the third time since 2012, but just the fourth time in history. Warm air and moisture were able to travel throughout the nation due to the high temperatures. As a result, it became a source of worry. The incident occurred at the Summit Station, which is situated at an elevation of 10,551 feet above sea level. This is the highest point on the ice sheet in the nation. Scientists think that climate change has caused glaciers to melt, resulting in an increase in sea levels. This would have an effect on cities located along the shore. Greenland’s glaciers are a popular tourist attraction in Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador.
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