When you think of breaking a speed record seldom do you think of Greenland
Unless youre a glaciologist at the University of Washingtons Polar Science Center, then Greenlands Jakobshavn Glacier would jump immediately to mind. Recent observations have shown that in summer of 2012 the glacier reached a record speed of more than 10.5 miles per year, or more than 150 feet per day. This appears to be the fastest flow rates recorded for any glacier or ice stream in Greenland or Antarctica, researchers said.
Widely believed to be the glacier that produced the large iceberg that sank the Titanic in 1912, Jakobshavn Glacier drains the Greenland ice sheet into a deep-ocean fjord on the west coast of the island.
What makes the Jakobshavn Glacier so unique is that "even after all the mass that it has already lost, it is able to keep doing it, year after year. According to scientists as the Arctic region warms, Greenland glaciers such as Jakobshavn have been thinning and 'calving' or breaking off icebergs further and further inland. This means that, even though the glacier is flowing towards the coast and carrying more ice into the ocean, its calving front is actually retreating inland at approximately 0.6 miles per year.
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Glacier that sank the Titanic is really on the move, say scientists Further summer speedup of Jakobshavn Isbre
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I don't want to be in her way.
When I think of a Greenland speed record, I think of something that is prefaced by the word, "Mush!"
Interesting!!! That is one fast glacier!!! Must have been a lot of snow at higher latitudes...
You have to admit that is a pretty big leap in speed. At 150ft per day you would be able to hear as well as see the glacier movement. That sound must be eerie.
I bet it would sound a lot like the dull roar of an earthquake. You know, something so low you can't quite hear it...
You could put, if you were willing to risk your life, a string of sticks/poles across it, and watch them move. Which would be fascinating. But, something like that would be so unstable, I wouldn't risk it. Glaciers are fascinating! To me, anyway!
Hey Larry, want to do something fun? I know you have NOTHING else to do!!! Ha! I know you're busy, but you're strong enough, it would probably work.
Ice is held together by very weak Van Der Waal bonds, chemically. So, if you go into your freezer and get out an ice cube, you can make it move like a glacier. Wrap the ice cube loosely in a towel, and using both hands press with all your strength against the other hand, to mash the ice cube, and twist at the same time. It makes a sort of eeeky sound, like a sled runner on snow, but you can twist the cube. When you take it out of the towel, it looks NEAT!
I tried you experiment today Dowser. Worked jut as you said it would what a funny pattern that makes on the ice cube. Thanks for the suggestion.
I'm not strong enough to do it any more, but used to love to try it-- It is really neat!!