A dangerous new crack in Greenland's ice could spell doom for a major ice sheet

The Greenland ice sheet is one of the most important masses of ice on the planet.

Researchers have found a new crack in one of Greenland's largest glaciers. The discovery is alarming because the glacier holds back land ice which can contribute to sea level rise. Meltwater from Greenland is to blame for one-third of the planet's sea level rise to date.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- A couple of weeks ago, scientists discovered a new crack in one of Greenland's major glaciers. Scientist and professor Stef Lhermitte was working with imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel 1 satellite when he noticed a crack in an ice sheet. To his surprise, the crack had not been previously seen or recorded.

The crack appeared in the Patermann Glacier, one of the northernmost glaciers in Greenland.

He tweeted his finding which caught the attention of NASA scientists who then contacted a team of scientists conducting imaging flights over Greenland. A day later, a flight confirmed the finding; the crack was new.

The crack is farther upstream meaning if the crack turns into a break, a massive glacier would be calved into the sea. This is a normal occurrence, although it has been happening more frequently in recent history.

The real problem is that the Glacier holds back the ice sheet on land, and if the ice sheet begins to slide into the ocean, it will directly and immediately contribute to sea level rise.

Scientists can't be sure if the crack will complete itself and break the glacier in two, but it is very possible. It is a clear sign that the planet is warming and our ice is melting. According to climate records, the planet is warming at a record pace.

The warmer climate is already changing weather patterns around the globe and causing ecological devastation. The sea level is also rising, threatening low-lying islands and coastlines.

Experts urge policy changes to reduce CO2 emissions, and for people to pay more attention to how their choices impact the environment.