Remote, cold, and largely untouched, Greenland significantly influences the daily weather conditions experienced by billions globally, as well as the ongoing climate transformations affecting the Earth.
Greenland resides at the crossroads of climate change, limited resource availability, geopolitical tensions, and evolving trade dynamics, according to Geoff Dabelko, a security and environment professor at Ohio University.
The world’s largest island is now seen as pivotal in various geopolitical and geoeconomic competitions, a shift that has been propelled by climate change, Dabelko adds.
Since taking office, President-elect Donald Trump has shown a vested interest in acquiring Greenland, which is a semiautonomous region under Danish administration, a long-time ally of the U.S. and a founding figure of NATO. This territory also hosts a significant U.S. military base.
So, what makes Greenland so sought after?
One can think of Greenland as a vast refrigerator or thermostat for a warming planet, situated in a region that is heating up at a rate four times that of the global average, according to climate scientist David Holland from New York University.
The island contains valuable rare earth elements essential for telecommunications, in addition to uranium, billions of unreleased barrels of oil, and an extensive reserve of natural gas that is becoming more accessible due to changing climatic conditions.
A considerable portion of these vital minerals is currently sourced mainly from China, which has prompted other nations, including the United States, to show interest, Dabelko explains. Three years ago, however, the Danish government temporarily halted offshore oil exploration around this territory, which has a population of 57,000 individuals.
Beyond oil, gas, and minerals, ice is one of Greenland’s most critical resources—an “astounding” amount, according to Eric Rignot, a climate scientist at the University of California, Irvine.
If this ice were to melt, the consequences could drastically alter coastlines worldwide and potentially disrupt weather patterns to such an extent that it has inspired Hollywood disaster films. Greenland possesses enough ice that if it were to fully melt, global sea levels could rise by as much as 24 feet (7.4 meters). A recent study found that nearly one foot of that ice—referred to as “zombie ice”—is already destined to melt regardless of future climate actions.
Since 1992, Greenland has lost roughly 182 billion tons (169 billion metric tons) of ice each year, with losses escalating to 489 billion tons (444 billion metric tons) annually in 2019.
Mark Serreze, the director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, asserts that Greenland will remain “a key focal point” throughout the 21st century due to the repercussions of its melting ice sheet on sea levels. “It is likely to become an even larger contributor in the years to come.”
These changes are perhaps “inevitable,” adds Holland from NYU.
What other climate dynamics are involved?
Greenland is crucial in influencing a key ocean current that impacts the Earth’s climate in various ways, including the frequency of hurricanes and winter storms. This current, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), is slowing down as more freshwater from melting ice enters the ocean, according to Serreze.
The potential shutdown of the AMOC is a deeply concerning climatic tipping point that could send Europe and parts of North America into prolonged freezing conditions, similar to the scenario featured in the 2004 film “The Day After Tomorrow.”
Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, highlights that if this global current system were to experience a significant slowdown or even stop altogether—a phenomenon that has happened in the past—then the normal temperature and precipitation patterns across the globe could be fundamentally altered. This could lead to agricultural breakdowns, ecosystem collapses, and the erasure of what we consider “normal” weather.
As Greenland melts, it is also undergoing a color change; shifting from the reflective white surface of ice—which tends to send sunlight, heat, and energy back into space—to the blue and green of ocean and land, which absorb far more energy, according to Holland.
The changes in Greenland are influencing the severe winter chill that is currently impacting two-thirds of the United States. Furthermore, in 2012, weather patterns over Greenland played a role in steering Superstorm Sandy towards New York and New Jersey, as noted by winter weather specialist Judah Cohen from Atmospheric and Environmental Research.
Greenland’s massive ice formations also affect jet stream patterns which influence storms worldwide and guide daily weather. Often, especially during the winter season, high-pressure systems over Greenland can trigger Arctic air to sweep westward and eastward, affecting both North America and Europe, Cohen adds.
What adds to Greenland’s value is its geographical position. Situated straddling the Arctic Circle between the U.S., Russia, and Europe, it is a prized geopolitical asset that has garnered interest from nations for more than 150 years. Its worth has increased as the Arctic opens up more to shipping and trade routes.
In addition to its strategic value, the island’s breathtaking scenery is incomparable, as it features some of the planet’s oldest geological formations.
Holland, who has conducted over 30 research missions in Greenland since 2007, describes the island as “incredibly beautiful,” highlighting the massive ice chunks reminiscent of the Empire State Building that break off and plunge into the ocean, along with the stunning wildlife, including seals and killer whales. “It’s simply awe-inspiring.”
