Once considered unchanging for millions of years, Greenland’s ice sheet has a new story. A recent study reveals that not only did the edges of the ice sheet melt, but the center also transformed into a lush tundra landscape in the past. This discovery comes from examining sediment from a 1993 ice core, which had been stored for 30 years.

Scientists analyzed a small sediment sample taken from the bottom of the core in Greenland’s center. They found well-preserved remains of plants and insects, including willow wood, fungi, and even poppy seeds. This evidence suggests that Greenland’s ice melted and was covered by a green landscape during a warm period in the last million years.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that the ice melted significantly, creating conditions for a tundra ecosystem. This finding highlights the ice sheet’s vulnerability to climate change, showing that Greenland’s ice could disappear much more quickly than previously thought.

The researchers’ findings suggest that if Greenland’s ice were to melt again, sea levels could rise dramatically, potentially flooding coastal cities worldwide. This underscores the urgent need to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent severe consequences for coastal communities.

References

• University of Vermont. (2024, August 5). Greenland fossil discovery stuns scientists and confirms that center of ice sheet melted in recent past. Phys.Org; University of Vermont. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-greenland-fossil-discovery-stuns-scientists.html
• Bierman, P. R., Mastro, H. M., Peteet, D. M., Corbett, L. B., Steig, E. J., Halsted, C. T., Caffee, M. M., Hidy, A. J., Balco, G., Bennike, O., & Rock, B. (2024). Plant, insect, and fungi fossils under the center of Greenland’s ice sheet are evidence of ice-free times. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(33), e2407465121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2407465121