Earth ID: 3467

Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006 with Blue/White Elevation Change over Greenland

Visualizations by Cindy Starr Released on October 4, 2007

Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier gradually receded until about 1950, where it remained stable for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006.

This animation is an update of, and extension to, animation IDs #3374 and #3434.

In this version, the pause on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier where the meltwater lakes on the Greenland ice sheet are visible is shortened. In addition, the colors showing regions of elevation increase and decrease over the Greenland ice sheet are modified.

Visualization Credits

Cindy Starr (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Visualizer
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Animator
Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Animator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (GST): Animator
Waleed Abdalati (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Richard Alley (Pennsylvania State University): Scientist
Bob Bindschadler (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Jay Zwally (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Konrad Steffen (University of Colorado): Scientist
Serdar Manizade (NASA/GSFC Wallops): Scientist
Gordon Hamilton (University of Maine): Scientist
Robert Thomas (NASA/GSFC-LaRC): Scientist
Ole Bennike (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland): Scientist
Anker Weidick (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio The Next Generation Blue Marble data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC).

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3467

Missions:
Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)
Landsat
Terra

Data Used: