As It Happens

Sub-glacial lakes suddenly drain away, according to new research

They are accidental discoveries, but they're raising new concerns about the ongoing changes to Greenland's ice sheet.Two new research papers reveal that two different sub-glacial lakes in Greenland have drained of their water. In one case the lake drained within weeks and is now simply a crater.

They are accidental discoveries, but they're raising new concerns about the ongoing changes to Greenland's ice sheet.Two new research papers reveal that two different sub-glacial lakes in Greenland have drained of their water. In one case the lake drained within weeks and is now simply a crater. 

The other lake has emptied, refilled, and emptied again twice in the past two years.

The flow of warmer water into the ice sheet brings to light additional effects of global warming in and around Greenland.
Michael Bevis, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Geodynamics at Ohio State University, tells As It Happens host, Carol Off, about the the sub-glacial lakes. He's the co-author of one of the studies.