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Study published on February 13, 2026 points to the presence of large spiral structures beneath the Greenland ice sheet and suggests that deep ice may be up to 10 times softer than previously estimated, with possible impact on flow models and sea level projections
Scientists have identified signs of a hidden process within the ice sheet in Greenland that may help explain how this mass moves at depth and influence models used to predict future changes in polar ice caps and sea level.
Deep structures challenge the traditional view of ice
The discovery involves large spiral formations resembling plumes buried deep within the vast ice sheet of Greenland. These structures have intrigued researchers for over a decade, without a consolidated explanation for their origin.
Now, scientists from the University of Bergen in Norway claim to have found an explanation by applying mathematical models similar to those used to study the slow separation of continents over time. The work suggests that these formations may be linked to a thermal convection process within the ice.
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According to the research, this thermal convection corresponds to a slow, circular movement caused by temperature differences between deeper and shallower layers. This type of dynamics is usually more associated with heat flow in the Earth’s mantle than with the behavior of large ice masses.
Andreas Born, a professor at the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research and the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bergen, stated that the finding contradicts the most common way of thinking about ice. According to him, ice is typically seen as a solid material, which makes the observation that parts of the Greenland ice sheet may undergo thermal convection surprising.
Thermal convection emerges as an explanation for hidden movement
Born, who has studied ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere for over 15 years and co-authored the study, related the phenomenon to behavior comparable to that of a boiling pot of pasta. The comparison was used to illustrate the fact that parts of the ice may slowly stir at depth, despite the rigid appearance of the surface.
The study’s lead author, glaciologist Robert Law, also highlighted the unusual nature of the discovery. According to him, the idea that thermal convection could occur within an ice sheet goes against intuition and the more usual expectations about this material.
Law stated that, although it seems unexpected, physics supports this behavior. According to the researcher, ice is at least a million times softer than the Earth’s mantle, which allows the same physical laws to apply, even in a context he considers a “nature’s aberration.”
The study was published in the journal The Cryosphere and was selected as a “highlight article” due to the relevance attributed to the work. The research is titled “Exploring the Conditions Favoring Convection in the Greenland Ice Sheet” and was published on February 13, 2026.
What the study indicates about the Greenland ice sheet
The results suggest that the ice at the depths of northern Greenland may be about ten times softer than previously thought.
The team specifically investigated whether the large plume-like structures seen within the ice sheet could be explained by thermal convection and what this would reveal about the softness and movement of the ice.
According to the researchers, these structures are likely produced by a slow internal agitation process driven by temperature differences. The conclusion reinforces the hypothesis that the interior of the ice sheet is not static but subjected to more complex physical mechanisms than previously imagined.
Still, the authors emphasize that the fact that deep ice is softer does not automatically mean faster melting. Law stated that improving the understanding of ice physics is important for enhancing the reliability of projections about the future, but noted that more studies are needed to completely isolate this issue.
He highlighted that softer ice alone does not necessarily mean that sea level rise will be greater. The caution expressed by the authors accompanies the assessment that the study expands knowledge about the internal dynamics of the ice sheet but does not allow the discovery to be transformed into a direct signal of immediate acceleration of melting.
Impact of the discovery on models and future projections
For Andreas Born, the main contribution of the work lies in its potential to improve the scientific models used to calculate the mass balance of polar ice caps and project future sea level rise. According to him, the discovery could be crucial in reducing uncertainties in these projections.
As softer ice influences the flow of the ice sheet, the results may help refine predictions about how these large masses will behave in the coming decades. The study does not present the discovery as evidence of an imminent crisis but as a relevant step toward understanding a complex natural system.
Law noted that Greenland often appears in the news for issues related to mining, geopolitics, and climate concerns. In this case, however, he stated that the main significance of the research lies in revealing the complexity and dynamism of the ice sheet.
The researcher also highlighted the unique characteristics of Greenland, stating that its nature is special and that the local ice sheet is over a thousand years old. According to him, it is the only ice sheet on Earth that has culture and a permanent population along its margins, which reinforces the importance of understanding the hidden processes occurring within this system.
International team participated in the research
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Bergen, through the Department of Earth Sciences and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. The research also involved collaboration with experts from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Oxford, and ETH Zurich.
In addition to Robert Law and Andreas Born, the work includes contributions from Philipp Voigt, Joseph A. MacGregor, and Claire Marie Guimond. The publication focuses on analyzing the conditions that favor convection within the Greenland ice sheet and the implications of this process for the softness of deep ice.
In the assessment expressed by the authors, the greater the knowledge about the hidden processes within the ice, the better the preparation for changes that may affect coastlines around the world.
The research thus places Greenland at the center of a new front of scientific investigation into the internal workings of large ice sheets.
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