Greenland's Prudhoe Dome melted 7,100 years ago—what that means for sea levels today

A research team has drilled through 600 metres of solid ice in northwestern Greenland to extract vital ice cores. Their work reveals new details about the Prudhoe Dome, one of the region's largest ice caps. For the first time, they also collected sediment samples from beneath the ice sheet.

The expedition took place under harsh conditions, with temperatures dropping to -56°C and winds reaching 110 km/h. Despite these challenges, the team successfully retrieved ice cores and sediment from below the glacier. Their aim was to uncover the history of Greenland's ice sheet and its response to past climate shifts.

Analysis of the samples showed that the Prudhoe Dome melted entirely around 7,100 years ago. This discovery suggests the ice cap is far more vulnerable to warming than earlier studies indicated. The findings also help predict when the dome might melt again, potentially raising global sea levels.

The team's work marks the first time sediment from beneath the ice has been extracted. These samples provide direct evidence of past environmental changes in the region.

The study confirms that the Prudhoe Dome has melted before due to rising temperatures. This raises concerns about its stability in a warming climate. Researchers now have clearer data on how quickly the ice cap could disappear and affect sea levels.