Why are dog sleds in Greenland now bouncing over bare earth?

Dog sleds are bouncing over earth and rock because of rising temperatures causing a lack of snow and ice in Ilulissat, Greenland, during what should be winter.

How does Greenland's melting ice affect global sea levels?

The Sermeq Kujalleq glacier in Greenland is shedding ice at an unprecedented rate, significantly contributing to the rise of sea levels worldwide.

What is the cultural impact of the melting sea ice in Greenland?

The loss of sea ice, which historically served as vital hunting grounds and travel routes, deeply threatens Inuit culture and traditional practices.

Home / Environment / Greenland's Ice Melts: Dog Sleds Bounce on Bare Earth

Greenland's Ice Melts: Dog Sleds Bounce on Bare Earth

17 Feb

•

Summary

Dog sleds now bounce over earth and rock due to lack of snow and ice.
Melting glaciers significantly contribute to rising sea levels globally.
Loss of sea ice threatens Inuit culture and traditional hunting grounds.

Greenland's Ice Melts: Dog Sleds Bounce on Bare Earth

Growing up in a village in northern Greenland, Jørgen Kristensen's formative years were marked by a deep connection with his stepfather's sled dogs. Now 62, Kristensen, a five-time Greenlandic dog sled champion, observes a profound environmental change. This winter, in Ilulissat, the traditional dog sled journeys are impossible as the sleds bounce over earth and rock instead of snow and ice. Kristensen notes the unprecedented January absence of snow and ice in the bay, a stark contrast to temperatures that previously hovered around -25 Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) in the 1980s, now frequently above freezing and sometimes as warm as 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit).