Why is Greenland Melting?

Share:
June 1, 2017

Greenland’s magnificent glaciers are melting — faster and faster.

A team of NASA scientists are trying to find out the reason why.

“When you look at the glacier like that, from the vantage point of a helicopter, it looks like it’s going to be here forever,” says Eric Rignot, a senior research scientist at NASA and professor at UC Irvine in a new 360° film from FRONTLINE, NOVA and Emblematic Group. “How could it possibly go away?”

The warm air that comes into contact with the glaciers is one factor at play. But the NASA team has found a troubling development underwater as well.

Their findings mean that predictions for global sea level rise may be too conservative. And coastal cities like Miami or Mumbai could be at a higher risk of catastrophic flooding.

More Stories

U.S. ‘Virtually Never Held Anyone Accountable’ for Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan War, Former White House Official Says
A new FRONTLINE series probes mistakes behind the U.S. failure in Afghanistan — including errant raids and other military operations that repeatedly killed Afghan civilians, and for which, according to former deputy national security adviser and retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, ‘we virtually never held anyone accountable.’
April 11, 2023
The Fight Over the Abortion Pill Mifepristone and the Financial Impact of Abortion Access
The battle over abortion in America continues to escalate, with competing rulings from two different courts over abortion pills. FRONTLINE looks at the latest developments and the potential implications for people trying to access abortions.
April 10, 2023
What the Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Could Mean for the 2024 Election, Gerrymandered Maps and Abortion
FRONTLINE takes a closer look at the potential state- and national-level ramifications of Wisconsin Supreme Court’s judicial election.
April 7, 2023
Remembering Marian Marzyński (1937-2023)
Read FRONTLINE founder David Fanning's message about the passing of filmmaker Marian Marzyński and his legacy.
April 6, 2023