Scientists sail to Greenland to study melting ice sheets
Scientists are embarking on an expedition to Greenland aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough to study how melting glaciers affect ocean currents. The team aims to gather data to improve climate models and understand the potential impact on global climate stability.
Why it matters
Understanding the interaction between melting ice and ocean currents is critical for predicting climate change impacts, including potential shifts in global weather patterns.
Image source, Richard Knights/BBC Image caption, The international group of scientists aboard the RSS Sir David Attenborough will head to Greenland to study tidewater glaciers
A group of international scientists are heading to Greenland on the UK's polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough to study how quickly melting ice sheets are pushing vital ocean currents towards collapse.
The team will depart from Harwich International Port in Essex on Thursday.
It is hoped the data gathered on tidewater glaciers can be used to improve predictions for the future of Greenland's glaciers and their impact on the surrounding ocean as they melt.
The scientists said collecting a pioneering array of data was vital because current climate models did not accurately represent the complex ways in which Greenland's glaciers interact with the warming ocean.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in