climate change

More icebergs are changing life in the Arctic

Since the turn of the millennium, the number of icebergs in the Arctic has accelerated. They transport rocks and sediments far out into the ocean and create new habitats on the seabed at an increasing rate. This is shown by a new study in Nature, which also warns about the growing threat icebergs pose to shipping.

Iceberg observed on 06-08-2022 near 78.43°N and 18.44°W. Photo: Christian R. Rohleder

Thursday 11 June 2026

Tore Vind Jensen

The number of icebergs in the Arctic has increased significantly since the early 2000s. A new study, carried out by, among others, researchers from DTU Space, documents how the melting of large glaciers in Northeast Greenland and the Russian part of the Arctic is sending ever more icebergs into the ocean.

The icebergs transport surprisingly large amounts of rock and sediment from land and transport them several hundred kilometers into the sea. The stones sink to the bottom and change life on the seabed nearly 2,500 meters below the ocean surface. The hard surfaces on an otherwise soft seabed allow sponges, sea anemones, and other organisms to establish themselves.

This is yet another clear example that climate change in the Arctic has far-reaching consequences, says Shfaqat Abbas Khan, professor at DTU Space and co-author of the study:

“When Greenland’s ice melts, sea levels rise. But we can also see that the changes affect the entire Arctic system. The effects can be traced from the glaciers in Northeast Greenland to the seabed several thousand meters below the ocean surface and to the waters where shipping traffic is growing,” he says.


Aerial view of a calving glacier with rock inclusions in northern Greenland in summer 2016. Photo: Esther Horvath

The researchers have combined nearly 40 years of observations of icebergs in the Fram Strait between Greenland and Svalbard with satellite data, sea-ice models, and seabed studies. The analysis shows that the number of icebergs has quadrupled since 2000.

The increase is linked to the fact that several large glaciers in Northeast Greenland have become less stable and are releasing more ice. At the same time, sea ice has shrunk and become more mobile, making it easier for icebergs to drift long distances through the Arctic.

“We know from measurements and satellite observations that the large glaciers in Northeast Greenland have lost stability over recent decades. The new study shows that the consequences do not stop at rising sea levels, but directly affect deep-sea ecosystems far from the glaciers,” emphasizes Shfaqat Abbas Khan.

At the same time, the study notes that the growing number of icebergs may pose new challenges for activities in the Arctic. As reduced sea ice opens new shipping routes, the risk increases that cruise ships and cargo vessels operating in or near ice-covered waters will encounter icebergs more often during their voyages.

The researchers therefore highlight the need for improved monitoring and warning systems for ice conditions to support shipping, fisheries, and other activities in the Arctic.

“The Arctic is responding faster to global warming than most other places on Earth. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the interaction between ice sheets, the ocean, and ecosystems. This knowledge is necessary if we are to predict and manage the consequences of future climate change,” says Shfaqat Abbas Khan.


Debris transported by calved icebergs is released during melt and settles to the seafloor, where the coarser fraction (dropstones) provides hard substrate for colonising sessile benthic fauna. Infographic: Martin Künsting (CC-BY).

Contact

Shfaqat A Khan

Shfaqat A Khan Professor Department of Space Research and Space Technology Phone: +45 45253402

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