According to a recent study, there is every possibility that Greenland could start exporting sand soon. This will happen in wake of global warming, which would melt the island’s ice sheet thereby resulting in washing large amounts of sediment into the sea.
This sand could be used widely for construction purpose. It has been predicted that this would help in giving an edge to the economy of Greenland which supports 56,000 population.
According to a team of scientists in Denmark and the United States, ‘the mining of sand could overcome the challenges brought by climate change. By doing this, Greenland could largely benefit.’
Another team of scientists predict that the ice sheet of Greenland is melting at a faster rate due to ever rising global temperatures. The ice sheets account for enough water to raise global sea levels near about 7 meters. If these sheets thaw, it will carry more and more sand.
“One can think of the melting ice as a source that provides sediment to the coast,” said lead author Mette Bendixen, a researcher at the University of Colorado’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research.
However, if this happens, island would get exposed to the risks of coastal mining and threat especially to fisheries is also likely.
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