Greenland's Past and Future: Ice Cores and Climate Change Concerns

A recently discovered ice core from Greenland suggests that a large part of the country was ice-free around 400,000 years ago, during a period of moderate warming similar to current temperatures. The study overturns previous assumptions and warns that Greenland's ice sheet may be more sensitive to human-caused climate change than previously understood, potentially leading to irreversible, rapid melting and devastating sea level rise. If the ice sheet were to melt completely, sea levels would rise by about 7 meters (23 feet), impacting billions of people living along coastlines. The loss of ice also accelerates global warming. The findings highlight the urgent need for radical action to reduce planet-heating pollution and protect the fragile Greenland ice sheet.