Articles | Volume 18, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1333-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1333-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
22 Mar 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 22 Mar 2024
| 22 Mar 2024
Extreme melting at Greenland's largest floating ice tongue
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
formerly at: Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Niklas Neckel
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
Nils Dörr
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
formerly at: Institute of Geosciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Veit Helm
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
Daniel Steinhage
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
Ralph Timmermann
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
Angelika Humbert
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A decade of winter supraglacial lake drainage across Northeast Greenland using C-band SAR C. Dean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1559-2026
- Enhanced subglacial discharge amplifies Petermann Ice Shelf melting when ocean thermal forcing saturates A. Prakash et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59469-9
- Ocean driven retreat of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream following the Last Glacial Maximum S. Callard et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66671-2
- Review article: 30 years of airborne radar surveys on the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets by the Alfred Wegener Institute S. Franke et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-2485-2026
- Basal reflectance and melt rates across the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, from grounding line to ice shelf front D. Price et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.10
- Insights into supraglacial lake drainage dynamics: triangular fracture formation, reactivation and long-lasting englacial features A. Humbert et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3009-2025
- Simulating the Holocene evolution of Ryder Glacier, North Greenland J. Barnett et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3631-2025
- Atmospheric blocking slows ocean-driven melting of Greenland’s largest glacier tongue R. McPherson et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5008
- Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) C. Vives et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3107-2025
- The system of atmosphere, land, ice and ocean in the region near the 79N Glacier in northeast Greenland: synthesis and key findings from the Greenland Ice Sheet–Ocean Interaction (GROCE) experiment T. Kanzow et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1789-2025
- The effect of melt-channel geometry on ice-shelf flow D. Lilien et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.36
- Petermann Glacier on the brink: Progress, challenges and insights D. Fahrner et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aee4522
- Modeling the 21st-century response of Greenland's Zachariæ Isstrøm and Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden glaciers to atmosphere–ocean forcing and friction laws Y. Dong et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2025.11.006
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A decade of winter supraglacial lake drainage across Northeast Greenland using C-band SAR C. Dean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1559-2026
- Enhanced subglacial discharge amplifies Petermann Ice Shelf melting when ocean thermal forcing saturates A. Prakash et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59469-9
- Ocean driven retreat of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream following the Last Glacial Maximum S. Callard et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66671-2
- Review article: 30 years of airborne radar surveys on the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets by the Alfred Wegener Institute S. Franke et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-2485-2026
- Basal reflectance and melt rates across the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, from grounding line to ice shelf front D. Price et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.10
- Insights into supraglacial lake drainage dynamics: triangular fracture formation, reactivation and long-lasting englacial features A. Humbert et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3009-2025
- Simulating the Holocene evolution of Ryder Glacier, North Greenland J. Barnett et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3631-2025
- Atmospheric blocking slows ocean-driven melting of Greenland’s largest glacier tongue R. McPherson et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5008
- Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) C. Vives et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3107-2025
- The system of atmosphere, land, ice and ocean in the region near the 79N Glacier in northeast Greenland: synthesis and key findings from the Greenland Ice Sheet–Ocean Interaction (GROCE) experiment T. Kanzow et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1789-2025
- The effect of melt-channel geometry on ice-shelf flow D. Lilien et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.36
- Petermann Glacier on the brink: Progress, challenges and insights D. Fahrner et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aee4522
- Modeling the 21st-century response of Greenland's Zachariæ Isstrøm and Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden glaciers to atmosphere–ocean forcing and friction laws Y. Dong et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2025.11.006
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 17 Aug 2026
Editorial statement
This study addresses an important question regarding the stability of ice shelves, a question that is highly relevant for Greenland and Antarctica. Using a unique combination of observations, the authors document extensive thinning and extremely high basal melt rates at the floating tongue Nioghalvfjerdsbræ, North Greenland, an important and fast-changing part of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The increase in melt rates are suggested to be caused by an increase in surface melt that is funneling surface water under the ice shelf.
This study addresses an important question regarding the stability of ice shelves, a question...
Short summary
The 79° North Glacier in Greenland has experienced significant changes over the last decades. Due to extreme melt rates, the ice has thinned significantly in the vicinity of the grounding line, where a large subglacial channel has formed since 2010. We attribute these changes to warm ocean currents and increased subglacial discharge from surface melt. However, basal melting has decreased since 2018, indicating colder water inflow into the cavity below the glacier.
The 79° North Glacier in Greenland has experienced significant changes over the last decades....
