The potential role of El Niño-Southern Oscillation in triggering Greenland glacial earthquakes

Glacial earthquakes, which are primarily linked to the iceberg calving process, occur more frequently in polar regions with large ice masses. These events are triggered by the sudden movement of glaciers or ice sheets and are highly sensitive to climatic forces. This study focuses on the seasonal and inter-annual patterns of glacial earthquakes from Greenland, investigating the role of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnection induced by the tropically excited Arctic warming mechanism (TEAM). Our analysis demonstrates that El Niño events elevate surface temperatures over Greenland in winter, driven by increased poleward energy transport in the extra-tropics. This enhanced energy transfer contributes to significant winter warming in the region, establishing a clear link between ENSO-driven climate variability and the frequency of glacial earthquakes.