Washington Post, April 28, 2023: Here’s the real reason the Vikings left Greenland

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A new study found some Viking settlements experienced up to 10.8 feet of sea level rise over four centuries.

“After being exiled from Iceland for manslaughter, a Viking known as Erik the Red headed west in search of a new home. The bearded, red-haired explorer ventured 180 miles away, arriving on land that was not yet part of any European settlement. He spotted a green meadow and named the area Greenland, hoping to entice others to come. From about 985 to 1450, a small population of Vikings farmed and built communities on the island’s southern coast. Then, they mysteriously vanished.”

“Scientists and historians have proposed many theories for their disappearance, from plague, to drought, pirate raids and temperature changes. Now, a new study points to a key factor that may have prompted Vikings to flee their settlements: rising seas and subsequent flooding. The waters around some settlements may have risen by more than 10 feet over four centuries.”

Read the original article by Kasha Patel here: Here’s the real reason the Vikings left Greenland

Kasha Patel edits and reports on the weather, climate and environment for the Capital Weather Gang at The Washington Post. Before joining The Post, she covered Earth sciences and satellite research for NASA. She can be found on Twitter: @KashaPatel