Greenland and Antarctica have lost 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979

Greenland and Antarctica have lost a total of about 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979, contributing to global sea level rise by about 3.2 centimeters, according to a new study.

The analysis, which brings together satellite data collected over more than 40 years, shows that ice loss has accelerated significantly over recent decades, particularly since the 1990s.

According to researchers, one of the main factors is the warming of the oceans, which causes ice to melt from below and at the edges of glaciers, accelerating their flow into the sea.

Data for Antarctica has been collected since 1979, while for Greenland since 1972. According to the analysis, the ice sheets were relatively stable during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, before the loss began to accelerate. The most pronounced increase was recorded after 2010.

The study estimates that about 84 percent of the ice loss is related to increased ice discharge into the oceans, while 16 percent comes from processes occurring on the surface of the ice sheets.

Warmer sea waters are melting ice at the bottom and ends of glaciers. In Greenland, for example, the Jakobshavn Glacier is retreating at a rate that, according to the study, could be as much as 50 meters per day.

The loss of ice since 1979 has contributed to a rise in global sea levels of about 3.2 centimeters. Scientists warn that even relatively small increases in sea levels can have significant consequences for coastal areas.

Ice loss slowed during 2020–2023, but the researchers stress that this was related to short-term weather conditions and did not necessarily represent a change in the long-term trend. High snowfall in East Antarctica offset some of the losses, while milder summers in Greenland reduced surface melting.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Data, notes that ice sheets react to climate change with a lag of several decades. For this reason, the researchers estimate that ice loss could continue even if global warming is brought under control.

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