A recent scientific study highlights record-breaking temperatures in Iceland and Greenland during May, raising concerns about the accelerating melting of Arctic ice and its global climate implications. Temperatures in some parts of Iceland soared over 10 degrees Celsius above average, with the country recording its highest-ever May temperature at 26.6 degrees Celsius.
The analysis, conducted by World Weather Attribution, indicates that the Greenland ice sheet is melting at an accelerated rate during this heatwave. This extreme heat event is considered rare, with scientists estimating a 1% probability of occurrence in any given year. Experts suggest that such an event would be virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.
The melting of the Greenland ice sheet introduces massive amounts of freshwater into the salty oceans. This could potentially slow down the oceanic current that transports water from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, and then to Europe and the Arctic. This slowdown could disrupt global weather patterns.
Scientists warn that the Greenland ice sheet's melting can influence wind patterns and precipitation type. Furthermore, the melting contributes to rising sea levels, threatening coastal areas worldwide, particularly low-lying islands in the Pacific Ocean.