Episode 12

Here Be Dragons

The Greenland ice sheet is basically a giant ice cube the size of Alaska. What happens when it melts? We spent five days camping out on the ice with a team of scientists who are trying to find out.

Transcript

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The science team went to the edge of the Greenland ice sheet the day before flying out to the field site.

The science team went to the edge of the Greenland ice sheet the day before flying out to the field site.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

Graduate students Ian MacDowell and Rosie Leone look down on the ice sheet from inside the helicopter.

Graduate students Ian MacDowell and Rosie Leone look down on the ice sheet from inside the helicopter.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

A team of three professors and three students unload the helicopter at their research site on the Greenland ice sheet.

A team of three professors and three students unload the helicopter at their research site on the Greenland ice sheet.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

Graduate student Ian MacDowell, undergrad Aidan Stansberry, and principal investigator Joel Harper at work on the Greenland ice sheet

Graduate student Ian MacDowell, undergrad Aidan Stansberry, and principal investigator Joel Harper at work on the Greenland ice sheet

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

This team is studying ice sheet dynamics, or the ways the ice sheet moves over the land and into the sea.

This team is studying ice sheet dynamics, or the ways the ice sheet moves over the land and into the sea.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

Going to the Greenland ice sheet is "every geophysicist's dream," says Rosie Leone, a graduate student at the University of Montana.

Going to the Greenland ice sheet is "every geophysicist's dream," says Rosie Leone, a graduate student at the University of Montana.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

University of Montana glaciologists Joel Harper and Toby Meierbachtol assemble the gear they're using to measure the movement of the ice sheet.

University of Montana glaciologists Joel Harper and Toby Meierbachtol assemble the gear they're using to measure the movement of the ice sheet.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

The crew gathered for meals in a tent on the ice.

The crew gathered for meals in a tent on the ice.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

University of Wyoming glaciologist Neil Humphrey works on one of the tiny sensors the team sent down through a bore hole to collect information about the ice sheet bed.

University of Wyoming glaciologist Neil Humphrey works on one of the tiny sensors the team sent down through a bore hole to collect information about the ice sheet bed.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

The Arctic may seem remote, Humphrey says, but changes here affect the whole planet. “We're talking about raising sea level 10, 20 feet. You're going to displace hundreds of millions of people."

The Arctic may seem remote, Humphrey says, but changes here affect the whole planet. “We're talking about raising sea level 10, 20 feet. You're going to displace hundreds of millions of people."

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

Student Aidan Stansberry collects data to help map the ice sheet bed.

Student Aidan Stansberry collects data to help map the ice sheet bed.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

As humans warm the planet, surface melt is increasing. If the entire ice sheet melted, it would cause sea level to rise roughly 23 feet, inundating coastal areas around the world.

As humans warm the planet, surface melt is increasing. If the entire ice sheet melted, it would cause sea level to rise roughly 23 feet, inundating coastal areas around the world.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

University of Montana glaciologist Joel Harper examines a deep crack in the ice sheet called a crevasse.

University of Montana glaciologist Joel Harper examines a deep crack in the ice sheet called a crevasse.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

The 24-hour sunlight is so bright that researcher Toby Meierbachtol had to make a tent over his head in order to see the screen of a computer they're using to log the data from the ice sheet bed.

The 24-hour sunlight is so bright that researcher Toby Meierbachtol had to make a tent over his head in order to see the screen of a computer they're using to log the data from the ice sheet bed.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

The Greenland ice sheet is 10,000 feet thick in the center. “You can't go there. You can't see it,” Joel Harper says. That’s why he has his students working on mapping the bed with radar.

The Greenland ice sheet is 10,000 feet thick in the center. “You can't go there. You can't see it,” Joel Harper says. That’s why he has his students working on mapping the bed with radar.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

After five days of intense work, the team from the universities of Montana and Wyoming team packed up all the tents, food and gear, and waited for the helicopter to come pick them up.

After five days of intense work, the team from the universities of Montana and Wyoming team packed up all the tents, food and gear, and waited for the helicopter to come pick them up.

Greenland. Photo credit: Amy Martin

The science team went to the edge of the Greenland ice sheet the day before flying out to the field site.

Graduate students Ian MacDowell and Rosie Leone look down on the ice sheet from inside the helicopter.

A team of three professors and three students unload the helicopter at their research site on the Greenland ice sheet.

Graduate student Ian MacDowell, undergrad Aidan Stansberry, and principal investigator Joel Harper at work on the Greenland ice sheet

This team is studying ice sheet dynamics, or the ways the ice sheet moves over the land and into the sea.

Going to the Greenland ice sheet is "every geophysicist's dream," says Rosie Leone, a graduate student at the University of Montana.

University of Montana glaciologists Joel Harper and Toby Meierbachtol assemble the gear they're using to measure the movement of the ice sheet.

The crew gathered for meals in a tent on the ice.

University of Wyoming glaciologist Neil Humphrey works on one of the tiny sensors the team sent down through a bore hole to collect information about the ice sheet bed.

The Arctic may seem remote, Humphrey says, but changes here affect the whole planet. “We're talking about raising sea level 10, 20 feet. You're going to displace hundreds of millions of people."

As humans warm the planet, surface melt is increasing. If the entire ice sheet melted, it would cause sea level to rise roughly 23 feet, inundating coastal areas around the world.

University of Montana glaciologist Joel Harper examines a deep crack in the ice sheet called a crevasse.

The 24-hour sunlight is so bright that researcher Toby Meierbachtol had to make a tent over his head in order to see the screen of a computer they're using to log the data from the ice sheet bed.

The Greenland ice sheet is 10,000 feet thick in the center. “You can't go there. You can't see it,” Joel Harper says. That’s why he has his students working on mapping the bed with radar.

After five days of intense work, the team from the universities of Montana and Wyoming team packed up all the tents, food and gear, and waited for the helicopter to come pick them up.

How to Listen

Listen for free on our website, or anywhere you find podcasts.

Learn more

Scientist At Work

Read glaciologist Joel Harper’s article in The Conversation to learn more about his research on melt water under the Greenland ice sheet.

Up close and personal with Greenland’s ice sheet

See Amy Martin’s photo story on PRI’s The World, one of Threshold’s partners for season two.

Greenland’s ice sheet is melting at its fastest rate in 350 years

A new study published in the journal Nature is the first continuous, multi-century analysis of melting and runoff on the ice sheet, one of the largest drivers of sea level rise globally. Learn more in this article by PBS NewsHour.

Greenland Ice Sheet Today

Get daily satellite images and information about melting on the Greenland ice sheet from the National Snow & Ice Data Center here.

Next episode:

Episode 13: Try Harder

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