A recent study has identified a significant 'calving multiplier' effect at Greenland's Eqalorutsit Kangilliit Sermiat (EKaS) Glacier, revealing a feedback loop that may be accelerating glacial retreat. This phenomenon, where ice calving generates waves and currents that intensify submarine melting, provides critical new insights into glacial dynamics and their contribution to global sea-level rise. The research, utilizing a deployed fiber-optic cable for monitoring, observed that disturbances from calving events enhance melting, particularly in areas with slower background currents.
These findings suggest that current models may be underestimating submarine melt rates by up to two orders of magnitude. Iceberg calving, a major driver of ice loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet, is understood to be intensified by the resulting underwater waves and currents. These waves, some as tall as skyscrapers, can persist for hours after a calving event, continuously mixing warmer ocean water with colder glacial meltwater. This mixing process brings more heat into contact with the glacier's submerged base, leading to increased melting and erosion. The study, published in Nature, highlights the effectiveness of fiber-optic cables in capturing these intricate processes, offering a more detailed understanding of the complex interplay between glaciers and the ocean. This discovery is particularly relevant given that Greenland's ice sheet is losing mass at the fastest rate in at least 12,000 years, significantly contributing to global sea-level rise. The Eqalorutsit Kangilliit Sermiat glacier alone releases approximately 3.6 km³ of ice into the sea annually.