InfrasoundMonitoringRevealsAcceleratedIceSheetMeltingfromBelowinGreenland

A collaborative effort between the University of Oxford and the Alfred Wegener Institute has utilized infrasound arrays to detect and quantify previously unobserved melting processes beneath the Greenland ice sheet. Researchers identified distinct infrasonic signals, consistent with the turbulent flow of meltwater within subglacial channels, indicating significant basal melting contributing to ice loss. They recorded an average of 150 unique meltwater-related infrasound events per day in certain regions, directly correlating with periods of increased surface melt. This novel methodology, employing ground-based infrasound sensors, offers a real-time, non-invasive way to monitor subglacial hydrology, circumventing the limitations of satellite imagery for subsurface activity. The findings suggest that basal melting is a more dynamic and pervasive contributor to ice sheet instability than previously modeled.