Jakobshavn Isbræ calving front

Each year Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland’s fastest outlet glacier, discharges about 50 cubic kilometres of ice to the ocean, which breaks off as icebergs once the glacier meets the ocean. Only approximately 10% of the glacier is visible, with the rest of the 700- to 1300-metre thickness hidden below the water line. A large calving event at the front of this glacier was recently featured in the documentary Chasing Ice.

Credit: Ian Joughin, PSC/APL/UW

• Greenland’s fastest glacier reaches record speeds (3 February 2014)

• Original image (6.2 MB, 4110.0x2730.0 px)
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