‘Oh my God, what is that?’: How the maelstrom under Greenland’s glaciers could slow future sea level rise

Scientists have embarked on a risky mission to explore the Kangerlussuup glacier in Greenland using a remotely operated submarine, The Guardian reports. The aim of the mission is to gain a better understanding of  how sediment banks may slow glacier disintegration, which could transform our understanding surging sea levels.

• The submarine, Nereid Under Ice (NUI), faced extreme conditions, including near-zero visibility and the threat of being trapped or crushed by the glacier. Despite the dangers, NUI collected unprecedented data, including core samples from sediments at the glacier’s base, which no one had reached before.
• The expedition’s findings could reshape climate models, particularly regarding how sediment “speed bumps” might slow glacier retreat and delay sea level rise. This data is critical as current models often overlook the impact of these sediments, which could provide crucial information for coastal cities worldwide.
• The mission also involved innovative techniques like drone mapping and seismic surveys to study the glacier and surrounding fjord. The success of this decade-long project offers hope for better understanding the timeline of sea level rise, though significant challenges remain for coastal planning and adaptation efforts.