Doubling of Vegetation Area in Greenland: Consequences of Glacial Melting

The vegetation area in Greenland has doubled over the past 30 years due to the melting of glaciers. Scientists have explained that the danger of these processes lies in the expansion of marsh areas, which serve as a powerful source of methane. Methane has a much greater greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. Another concern is the irreversible link between warming processes in the region. Ice-free land surfaces better retain heat in both winter and summer, causing even more heating. As a result, the more marshes are formed in Greenland due to warming, the more they will continue to thaw and expand. In areas where vegetation has managed to establish itself, the process is even faster.