Melting Of Greenland Ice Sheet Driven By Geothermal Forces

 

A team of researchers understands more about the melting of the Greenland ice sheet. They discovered a flow of hot rocks, known as a mantle plume, rising from the core-mantle boundary beneath central Greenland that melts the ice from below.

The results of their two-part study were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

“Knowledge about the Greenland plume will bolster our understanding of volcanic activities in these regions and the problematic issue of global sea-level rising caused by the melting of the Greenland ice sheet,” said Dr. Genti Toyokuni, co-author of the studies.

The North Atlantic region is awash with geothermal activity. Iceland and Jan Mayen contain active volcanoes with their own distinct mantle plumes, whilst Svalbard – a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean – is a geothermal area. However, the origin of these activities and their interconnectedness has largely been unexplored.

The research team discovered that the Greenland plume rose from the core-mantle boundary to the mantle transition zone beneath Greenland.

The plume also has two branches in the lower mantle that feed into other plumes in the region, supplying heat to active regions in Iceland and Jan Mayen and the geothermal area in Svalbard.

A schematic diagram showing the main tectonic features and mantle plumes beneath Greenland and the surrounding regions. Vp = P wave velocity; MAR = the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; MTZ = the mantle transition zone (410-660 km depths); CMB = the core-mantle boundary at 2889 km depth. ©Tohoku University

Their findings were based on measurements of the 3-D seismic velocity structure of the crust and whole mantle beneath these regions. To obtain the measurements, they used seismic topography.

Numerous seismic wave arrival times were inverted to obtain 3-D images of the underground structure. The method works similarly to a CT scan of the human body.

Toyokuni was able to utilize seismographs he installed on the Greenland ice sheet as part of the Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network. Set up in 2009, the project sees the collaboration of researchers from 11 countries.

The US-Japan joint team is primarily responsible for the construction and maintenance of the three seismic stations on the ice sheet.

A map view of P wave velocity tomography at 5 km depth beneath Greenland and surrounding regions (left). Blue and red colors denote high and low-velocity perturbations, respectively, whose scale (in %) is shown beside the map. The white dotted lines are the thermal tracks of Iceland and Jan Mayen plumes that are affected by the Greenland plume. The area surrounded by the black dotted lines is where the flow, caused by melting at the bottom of the ice sheets, exists (Northeast Greenland Ice Stream); its water source is located at the intersection of the two heat tracks. A vertical cross-section of whole-mantle tomography passing through central Greenland and Jan Mayen (right). We can see that the Greenland plume is the heat source for the Jan Mayen volcano. ©Tohoku University

Looking ahead, Toyokuni hopes to explore the thermal process in more detail. “This study revealed the larger picture, so examining the plumes at a more localized level will reveal more information.”

Read more at Tohoku University

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Comments (3)

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

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    Hi Zoe and PSI Readers,

    Have to make this brief comment to be the first comment. At first I was skeptical about this report until I read: “Their findings were based on measurements of the 3-D seismic velocity structure of the crust and whole mantle beneath these regions.” I know nothing about these observation methods but trust these scientists methods of observation.

    But I have seen many examples of volcanic activity and have always considered that Greenland and the other small islands of the northern polar region just as I have considered that Antarctic continent is the result of volcanic activity as is the Cascade Man Range of Washington and Oregon is.

    But most intense activity is quite localized and appears to occur randomly.

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Carbon Bigfoot

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    James Kamis has opined on these pages— the full breath of his theory is available on https://plateclimatology.com and has been deadpanned by Atmospheric Bias followers who in MHO defy logic and reason.
    Jerry you need to go a full read of Kamis’ presentation and it illustrates that intense activity is anything but localized or occurring randomly. If I recall you admittedly hate videos but Kamis does a marvelous, entertaining recap for those that are unable to grasp the written word and the many references which are very supporting.

    Have a good day, Carbon.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Jerry Krause

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      Hi Carbon,

      Went to the link quickly scanned some text and found the work localized and figures showing localized volcanic area and regions. Another thing beside videos dislike are speculations of what was occiurring millions of years ago. I accept the reality of ‘massive’ volcanic activity. Which certainly supplies the energy to evaporate a greater volume of ocean water when and where this activity occurs. I have written it takes a lot of snow to form large sheets of ice a mile of more thick. But I am not sure that a mile think sheet of ice was necessary to more erratic boulders about the earth’s land surfaces south of the Arctic Ocean. Two many words to be considered ‘simple’. But I certainly do not suggest the vocanic activity to be ignored. As I read during my brief scan that it seemed the influence of clouds upon every day weather was being ignored.

      But thank you for bring Jame’s observations and ideas to my attention.

      Have a good day, Jerry

      Reply

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