World

Glacier Thought To Have Sunk Titanic Sets Record For Speed

Scientists claim a glacier in Greenland is moving at record speeds — now four times faster than it was in the 1990s.

Glacier Thought To Have Sunk Titanic Sets Record For Speed
Ian Joughin PSC/APL/UW
SMS

The glacier many believe sunk the Titanic is setting a record for speed. Scientists claim it's now moving four times faster than it was in the 1990s. 

"This is Greenland's largest glacier, the Jakobshavn. It's more than 4 miles wide and over 1,000 feet thick." (Via PBS)

The Jakobshavn is known as one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world and has been documented moving 2.5 miles per year. (Via New Scientist, Jason Amundson)

But a new study shows in the summer of 2012, the glacier blasted past that rate, moving at more than 10 miles a year, or about 150 feet per day. (Via The CryosphereIan Joughin PSC/APL/UW)

This means the glacier is adding more ice into the ocean, which causes the sea-level to rise. The study says from 2000 to 2010, it raised the sea level by 1 millimeter.

That might not sound like much initially, but The Weather Channel says it "is three to four percent of the current sea-level rise rate of about 3 millimeters a year."

And not to mention there are more than 100,000 glaciers worldwide. The study also mentioned the glacier moved faster in the summer than the winter. (Via ABC)