Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in the year 2000 and Calving Front Retreat from 2001 to 2006

  • Released Saturday, September 30, 2006
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Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point 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, it raises sea levels. 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 shows the flow of the Jakobshavn glacier in 2000, followed by a time series of the glacier's retreat from 2001 through 2006. A colored line and date marks the position of the glacier's calving front each year.

This element contains the Jakobshavn glacier retreat without calving front positions and without dates.

This element contains the overlay of the glacier's calving front positions and dates.

This still image shows the glacier ice flow vectors in the year 2000.

This still image shows the glacier ice flow vectors in the year 2000.

This still image shows the calving front on 07/02/2005. Lines also indicate the calving front in 1942, and 2001 through 2005.

This still image shows the calving front on 07/02/2005. Lines also indicate the calving front in 1942, and 2001 through 2005.

This still image shows the calving front on 08/08/2006. Lines also indicate the calving front in 1942, and 2001 through 2006.

This still image shows the calving front on 08/08/2006. Lines also indicate the calving front in 1942, and 2001 through 2006.

Credits

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

This page was originally published on Saturday, September 30, 2006.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:55 PM EDT.

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