A study published in Nature Communications reveals that warming Atlantic Water is the primary driver of ice loss beneath the 79 North Glacier (79NG), the largest floating ice tongue in Greenland. The research, using a high-resolution global ocean model, shows that changes in the temperature of Atlantic Intermediate Water (AIW) inflow into the glacier's cavity over the past 50 years are linked to the glacier's basal melt. The AIW, which flows through a narrow channel into the cavity, warms the glacier's base and causes undercutting of grounded ice. The study also found that subglacial discharge, driven by atmospheric warming, contributes to meltwater plumes that enhance basal melting. However, ocean warming via AIW is the dominant factor in the long-term increase in basal melt rates. The study highlights that the 79NG has not significantly changed in extent, but has been thinning in recent decades, likely due to the combined effects of ocean and atmospheric warming. The research suggests that future warming scenarios could lead to a significant increase in basal melt, potentially transforming the 79NG into a tidewater glacier. The study underscores the importance of understanding oceanic and atmospheric processes in predicting the future stability of Greenland's ice sheets.A study published in Nature Communications reveals that warming Atlantic Water is the primary driver of ice loss beneath the 79 North Glacier (79NG), the largest floating ice tongue in Greenland. The research, using a high-resolution global ocean model, shows that changes in the temperature of Atlantic Intermediate Water (AIW) inflow into the glacier's cavity over the past 50 years are linked to the glacier's basal melt. The AIW, which flows through a narrow channel into the cavity, warms the glacier's base and causes undercutting of grounded ice. The study also found that subglacial discharge, driven by atmospheric warming, contributes to meltwater plumes that enhance basal melting. However, ocean warming via AIW is the dominant factor in the long-term increase in basal melt rates. The study highlights that the 79NG has not significantly changed in extent, but has been thinning in recent decades, likely due to the combined effects of ocean and atmospheric warming. The research suggests that future warming scenarios could lead to a significant increase in basal melt, potentially transforming the 79NG into a tidewater glacier. The study underscores the importance of understanding oceanic and atmospheric processes in predicting the future stability of Greenland's ice sheets.