00:00 Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have reported a five-fold increase in the
00:09 rate of glacier melting in Greenland over the past two decades due to global warming.
00:14 Greenland's glaciers, comprising an ancient ice sheet, hold enough water to potentially
00:19 raise sea levels by over 20 feet, that is 6 meters, if completely melted.
00:26 This alarming revelation emerges from a study analysing a thousand glaciers, showing that
00:31 the rate of melting has entered a new phase.
00:34 Experts say there is a direct correlation between rising global temperatures and the
00:38 accelerated glacier melting.
00:40 The glaciers now receive by an average of 25 meters annually, a stark increase compared
00:46 to the 5-6 meters observed around two decades ago.
00:52 Researchers arrived at these findings by studying the glaciers' development over 130 years,
00:57 utilising satellite imagery and analysing 200,000 historical photos.
01:02 The impact of this accelerated melting extends beyond Greenland, with global implications
01:06 for rising sea levels.
01:08 Currently, the world has experienced a temperature increase of nearly 1.2 degrees Celsius above
01:13 pre-industrial levels.
01:15 According to European Union scientists, 2023 is projected to be the warmest year in 1,25,000
01:22 years.
01:24 Greenland glaciers play a pivotal role in understanding the broader consequences of
01:28 climate change, serving as an indicator for anticipating the fate of the region's ice
01:33 sheet.
01:34 The Greenland ice sheet contributed 17.3% to the observed rise in sea levels between
01:40 2006 and 2018, while glaciers contributed 21%.
01:45 With approximately 22,000 glaciers in Greenland, the acceleration in their melting poses a
01:51 significant environmental concern with far-reaching consequences.
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