Climate change are giving new shape to the northern hemisphere, making the glaciers disappear and emerge the rocks: according to what is detected by a study published on Nature Climate Change, conducted by a team of polar ecologists, geographers and marine scientists, between 2000 and 2020 Greenland would have earned 1,620 kilometers of rocky coasts due to the dissolution of the ice.
Islands (re) emerged. Throughout the boreal hemisphere In the last twenty years, 2,466 kilometers of new coast have appeared – The 66% of which in Greenland. The retreat of glaciers also brought out 35 islands With an extension greater than 0.5 km2 – 29 in Greenland and the remaining six between the Svalbard and the Russian Arctic. Five of these islands had already been mapped in the sixties of the twentieth century, before they were temporarily buried by the ice; Thirteen had never been discovered, which presumably means that since we make mappings they have always been frozen.
New geopolitical interests. In addition to reminding us of the inexorable effects of climate change on our planet, the study also makes you think about the geopolitical consequences of these mutations. Greenland is in fact object of desire US President Donald Trumpwho recently declared that “he will do everything to have it”, claiming that control of the island would be essential for US national security.
Safety issues aside, what is certain is that The dissolution of the glaciers will make new territories rich in natural resources very attractive such as oil, gas and other minerals accessible accessible – And this will only feed the interest of the great world powers. Who will be the new owner of Greenland?
