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Greenland's melting ice could be changing our oceans. Just ask the whales

WHRO

Published April 18, 2023 at 5:08 AM EDT

Ryan Kellman/NPR — Melting ice in Greenland could be driving the deaths of an already endangered whale.

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When North Atlantic right whales went missing from waters in the Gulf of Maine, it was a red flag. With only about 340 animals left, the species is at risk of extinction. Many of the whales are swimming hundreds of miles farther to Canadian waters instead, putting them in new danger.

Now, scientists are linking that to deeper shifts in the ocean, brought on by climate change. The connection may reach all the way to the world's second-largest ice sheet, melting increasingly fast on Greenland.

This story was edited by Neela Banerjee and Sadie Babits. It was produced by Ryan Kellman. Special thanks to Susan Parks of Syracuse University for the recording of North Atlantic right whales.