Quakes recorded for the first time inside Greenland's biggest frozen river, the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, suggest this river and others switch between moving jerkily and flowing like honey.
Scientists have recorded a previously undocumented phenomenon known as "ice quakes" deep within the frozen rivers of Greenland. These seismic events, detected by researchers from the University of Cambridge, occur in the subglacial channels where meltwater flows beneath the ice sheet. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, utilized a network of seismometers to capture these unique quakes, which are believed to be caused by the sudden release of pressure as water moves through the ice. This discovery provides new insights into the dynamics of ice sheet stability and the potential impacts of climate change on Greenland's ice, which could influence global sea levels. The findings suggest that these ice quakes might play a role in the fracturing and eventual melting of ice, contributing to the understanding of how ice sheets respond to increasing temperatures.
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