Study: Greenland's Melting Ice Will Raise Sea Levels 27 Centimeters
2022-09-01
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1A study published Monday predicts that melting ice in Greenland will cause sea levels around the world to rise by at least 27 centimeters by 2100.
2This would be more than double an earlier prediction by a United Nations body.
3Last year's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report predicted a sea level rise of six to 13 centimeters by the year 2100.
4The researchers studied the difference between the amount of ice that accumulates on Greenland's glaciers and the amount of ice that melts at the edges of the glaciers.
5Snowfall in the mountains of Greenland flows down and feeds the glaciers.
6But in recent years, there has been less snow and more melting.
7The scientists said this has created an imbalance, and melting is exceeding the amount of ice accumulation.
8The study appeared in the scientific publication Nature.
9The researchers said, even if global temperatures do not rise above current levels, the ice at the edges of Greenland's ice sheet will continue melting.
10Richard Alley is a glaciologist at Penn State University who was not part of the study.
11He said the melting ice is similar to what happens when an ice cube is put in a cup of tea.
12He said that glaciers will continue to decrease in size because they are in warmer air, just like an ice cube will melt if placed in warm tea.
13The researchers predicted that 3.3 percent of Greenland's ice will melt.
14One writer estimated that more than 110 trillion tons of ice is going to melt.
15William Colgan helped write the study.
16He studies glaciers at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
17He described the ice this way: "It's dead ice. It's just going to melt and disappear from the ice sheet."
18The researchers used the same method that is used to study ice loss on mountain glaciers.
19But they extended it to include all of Greenland.
20Some places further away from Greenland would get more sea level rise than some places closer to Greenland, such as the East Coast of the United States.
21The 27-centimeter rise would be in addition to increases in sea levels from normal tides and storms.
22Ellyn Enderlin is a geosciences professor at Boise State University who was also not part of the study.
23She said the sea level rise "will have huge societal, economic, and environmental impacts."
24Leigh Stearns of the University of Kansas and Sophie Nowicki of the University of Buffalo are both ice scientists.
25They said the study did not support its prediction that the sea level rise would take place by 2100.
26Colgan, the co-writer of the study, answered saying the research team does not know how long it will take for the ice to melt.
27He said it might happen by 2100 or by 2150 at the latest.
28Colgan also said that the sea level rise could be even bigger than the study predicts.
29He said the melting could produce a sea level rise of 78 centimeters.
30In 2012, the difference between adding and subtracting ice was the most out of balance.
31Colgan asserted that if Earth starts to have more years like 2012, then the melting could produce a sea level rise of 78 centimeters.
32Colgan added, "That's how climate change works.
33Today's outliers become tomorrow's averages."
34I'm Andrew Smith.
1A study published Monday predicts that melting ice in Greenland will cause sea levels around the world to rise by at least 27 centimeters by 2100. 2This would be more than double an earlier prediction by a United Nations body. Last year's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report predicted a sea level rise of six to 13 centimeters by the year 2100. 3The researchers studied the difference between the amount of ice that accumulates on Greenland's glaciers and the amount of ice that melts at the edges of the glaciers. Snowfall in the mountains of Greenland flows down and feeds the glaciers. But in recent years, there has been less snow and more melting. The scientists said this has created an imbalance, and melting is exceeding the amount of ice accumulation. 4The study appeared in the scientific publication Nature. 5The researchers said, even if global temperatures do not rise above current levels, the ice at the edges of Greenland's ice sheet will continue melting. 6Richard Alley is a glaciologist at Penn State University who was not part of the study. He said the melting ice is similar to what happens when an ice cube is put in a cup of tea. He said that glaciers will continue to decrease in size because they are in warmer air, just like an ice cube will melt if placed in warm tea. 7The researchers predicted that 3.3 percent of Greenland's ice will melt. One writer estimated that more than 110 trillion tons of ice is going to melt. 8William Colgan helped write the study. He studies glaciers at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. He described the ice this way: "It's dead ice. It's just going to melt and disappear from the ice sheet." 9The researchers used the same method that is used to study ice loss on mountain glaciers. But they extended it to include all of Greenland. 10Some places further away from Greenland would get more sea level rise than some places closer to Greenland, such as the East Coast of the United States. 11The 27-centimeter rise would be in addition to increases in sea levels from normal tides and storms. Ellyn Enderlin is a geosciences professor at Boise State University who was also not part of the study. She said the sea level rise "will have huge societal, economic, and environmental impacts." 12Leigh Stearns of the University of Kansas and Sophie Nowicki of the University of Buffalo are both ice scientists. They said the study did not support its prediction that the sea level rise would take place by 2100. 13Colgan, the co-writer of the study, answered saying the research team does not know how long it will take for the ice to melt. He said it might happen by 2100 or by 2150 at the latest. 14Colgan also said that the sea level rise could be even bigger than the study predicts. He said the melting could produce a sea level rise of 78 centimeters. In 2012, the difference between adding and subtracting ice was the most out of balance. Colgan asserted that if Earth starts to have more years like 2012, then the melting could produce a sea level rise of 78 centimeters. 15Colgan added, "That's how climate change works. Today's outliers become tomorrow's averages." 16I'm Andrew Smith. 17This story was reported by Seth Borenstein for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18____________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20accumulate -v. to increase in amount 21glacier -n. a large body of ice, usually moving slowly down a valley or slope 22imbalance -n. not being in equal amount 23exceed -v. to be more than or greater than 24glaciologist -n. a person who studies and researches glaciers 25geoscience -n. the sciences dealing with the earth, such as geology, geochemistry, and geophysics 26impact -n. an effect or influence 27outlier -n. a number, person, or thing that is not usual within a particular group 28____________________________________________________________________ 29We want to hear from you. 30We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 31Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.