The Greenland Coast is a vast, ice-dominated, and remote coastal region, a true frontier environment on Earth. Its immense geographical scale makes it one of the planet’s most striking and extensive coastlines. This area represents a unique intersection of land, ice, and ocean, shaping a distinct landscape.
Defining Physical Characteristics
Greenland’s coastline, extending over 44,000 kilometers, is deeply indented with thousands of fjords, islands, and skerries, making it one of the longest on Earth. This extensive and rugged geography is a direct result of millions of years of geological processes and extensive glacial activity. The island’s ancient bedrock, a continuation of the Canadian Shield, has been profoundly shaped by ice sheets over millennia.
The coastal landscape is dominated by deep fjords, which are narrow, long inlets carved by glaciers. These fjords serve as significant connections between the outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the surrounding oceanic currents. Within these fjords, sedimentary deposits like beaches, alluvial cones, and deltas are common, primarily originating from rivers and streams transporting weathered rock particles. The most active glacier near Ilulissat, for instance, moves at approximately 20 meters per day and produces over 20 cubic kilometers of ice annually.
Icebergs, calved from numerous tidewater glaciers, are common along the coast. Over 10,000 icebergs are calved from 19 major glaciers each year, with some reaching up to 1 kilometer in diameter. These icebergs represent a substantial freshwater flux from the Greenland Ice Sheet into the ocean. Iceberg density is high in areas like Disko Bay, especially during early to late summer due to increased calving.
Unique Wildlife and Ecosystems
The Greenland Coast supports diverse wildlife adapted to the Arctic environment. Marine mammals thrive in the nutrient-rich waters and ice-edge habitats. Whale species, including humpback, fin, and minke whales, are commonly observed. Seals, such as ringed and harp seals, are also prevalent, often found resting on ice floes or hunting.
Polar bears, predators of the Arctic, roam the ice-covered coastal areas, relying on seals for food. These bears are adapted to the cold, with thick fur and blubber providing insulation. Coastal cliffs provide nesting grounds for seabird species, which congregate in colonies during the breeding season. These include thick-billed murres, black-legged kittiwakes, and Atlantic puffins, feeding on fish and invertebrates in the coastal waters.
Human Life and Cultural Heritage
Human presence along the Greenland Coast stretches back thousands of years, marked by the Inuit people. Their traditional way of life is interwoven with the coastal environment, relying on hunting and fishing for food. This connection has fostered a rich cultural heritage, shaped by centuries of adaptation to the Arctic landscape.
Modern settlements, though sparse, are situated directly on the water, providing access for hunting and fishing. Living in these remote Arctic communities presents challenges, including isolation and reliance on external supplies, but also opportunities for close-knit community life. Fishing and hunting remain activities, providing both food and economic livelihood for many coastal residents. Tourism has also grown, offering visitors a glimpse into the unique cultural practices and natural beauty of the region.
Impacts of a Changing Climate
The Greenland Coast is experiencing environmental changes driven by global climate change. Accelerated glacier melt and increased iceberg calving are observable effects. The Greenland Ice Sheet, covering over four-fifths of the island, is losing mass at an increasing rate, contributing to global sea-level rise. For instance, the Helheim Glacier, a prolific iceberg producer, discharges approximately 25 gigatons of ice annually.
These changes have implications for coastal erosion, marine ecosystems, and human communities. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying coastal areas and infrastructure. Warmer ocean currents are flowing into fjords, melting the bottoms of glaciers, a process NASA’s Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) mission is studying. These changes also impact marine ecosystems, altering ocean temperatures and salinity, which can affect the distribution and abundance of marine species.