// K. Kjeldsen (GEUS)
Specialists from the University of Ottawa have presented the most comprehensive 3D models of temperature conditions at significant depths beneath Greenland to date. The research results, published on the university's website, show that the heat beneath the ice sheet is distributed unevenly. This phenomenon is related to the ancient volcanic origin of the region through which Greenland once passed.
As part of this project, scientists worked in tandem with colleagues from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. To create the models, they integrated data obtained from satellite observations with ground measurements and conducted numerous computer simulations using powerful computing systems.
The data obtained indicate that there is an uneven distribution of heat beneath Greenland. These differences are directly linked to geological movements in the region's past when it was situated above a volcanic hotspot.
Parviz Azurlu, a graduate student at the University of Ottawa and one of the authors of the study, noted: “Our regional temperature models show significant differences in the thermal structure beneath Greenland. This information helps us to better understand the tectonic history of the region and its impact on the geophysical characteristics of the underlying rocks.”
The temperature beneath the ice sheet is critical for its behavior today. Higher temperatures at depth may affect glacier dynamics, ice sliding, and the interpretation of satellite data on Earth's surface movement.
Glenn Milne, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Ottawa and the study's lead researcher, emphasized the importance of the results obtained: “This research significantly expands our knowledge of the internal structure of the Earth beneath Greenland. Temperature changes directly affect the interaction between the ice sheet and the bedrock, which must be taken into account for accurate interpretation of observations of surface movement and changes in the gravitational field.”
Considering the interaction of Earth's internal heat and the ice sheet, researchers will be able to model ice melting processes more accurately and assess Greenland's contribution to global sea level rise.
Azurlu added: “This study clearly demonstrates how our understanding of geological processes allows us to better comprehend the climate system. By improving models of ice and Earth interaction, we will be able to more effectively predict sea level changes and plan necessary measures.”
