49 
The table shows that since 12000 B.P. the annual loss of water from Greenland has ranged 
from 45% less to 33% more than the present water loss. These variations are surprisingly small, 
since the ice sheet in the same period has experienced a change in climate from glacial to 
interglacial conditions. 
a) 
b) 
Radiocarbon 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 
yeers BP (x 10?) 
Nacesaion INLAND ICE MARGIN POSITION 
West Greenland 
East Greenland 
North Greenland 
Volume change 
(water equivalent) 
Linear change 
«10&km3 
200 km 3.5 « 10&km 
100 3.0 
0 2.5 
2.0 
14 #12 #10 = 8 6 4 2 O «10 years B.P. 
Fig. 3. a) Ice margin fluctuations in Greenland since 12000 B.P. (from Weidick, 1975b). b) 
Average recession of the Greenland Ice Sheet margin. The recession is also converted to 
volume shrinkage (from Weidick, 1975a). 
