Scientists say shockwaves from melting icecaps are triggering earthquakes

High up inside the Arctic circle the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet has accelerated so dramatically that it is triggering earthquakes.

Scientists monitoring the glaciers have revealed that movements of gigantic pieces of ice are creating shockwaves that register up to three on the Richter scale.

Estimates of the likely rise in sea levels this century vary, and the IPCC published a conservative range of between 20cm-60cm. But those estimates are now heavily disputed, with many scientists insisting that new data collected since the IPCC report suggested a rise closer to two metres. Professor Correll said there was now a “consensus” that a significant acceleration in the loss of ice mass has occurred since the last report.

Greenland’s ice cap is immense, the second largest in the world, and its break-up would be catastrophic. The packed ice is up to two miles thick and its total collapse into the ocean would raise worldside sea levels by seven metres.

EQReporter