Eric Rignot
Eric Rignot
Eric Rignot is Professor of Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine, and principal scientist for the Radar Science and Engineering Section at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory...
aspect behavior build changing dump evolve glaciers ice melt quickly react sea sheet takes time understanding
The behavior of the glaciers that dump ice into the sea is the most important aspect of understanding how an ice sheet will evolve in a changing climate. It takes a long time to build and melt an ice sheet, but glaciers can react quickly to temperature changes.
clearly result warming
This is clearly a result of warming around the periphery of Greenland.
build glaciers ice melt quickly react takes time
It takes a long time to build and melt an ice sheet, but glaciers can react quickly to temperature changes.
actual call changes climate component computer flow future greenland include larger likely models predicted question variations warmer
These findings call into question predictions of the future of Greenland in a warmer climate from computer models that do not include variations in glacier flow as a component of change. Actual changes will likely be much larger than predicted by these models.
climate context evolution ice predicted rapid
The evolution of the ice sheet, in the context of climate warming, is more rapid than has been predicted by models.
greenland ice issue level scientific sea
The Greenland ice sheet's contribution to sea level is an issue of considerable societal and scientific importance.
active bit discharge greenland loss mass push resulting retreating start
The mass loss resulting from this glacier acceleration in Greenland is very significant. These are very active glaciers. They all end up in the ocean, discharge icebergs and are very dynamic. One you push them a little bit out of equilibrium, they start retreating very fast.
contribute faster greenland levels likely rising sea
It's likely that Greenland is going to contribute more and faster to rising sea levels than previously estimated.
coming glaciers seen
We don't think these are just bursts. We haven't seen any of these glaciers coming back to normal.