Satellite data shows major ice losses for Greenland and Antarctica

New research utilizing satellite data from the past five decades has revealed substantial ice losses in Greenland and Antarctica, contributing to a rise in global sea levels. Between 1979 and 2023, a combined loss of 11.3 trillion tons of ice from these two polar regions added 1.24 inches (3.14 cm) to the worldwide sea-level rise, as reported by an international team of polar scientists in a study published in the journal Scientific Data.

This study employed the most extensive satellite data record of ice sheet changes ever compiled, providing a comprehensive account of ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica.

The ice loss documented in the study shows that 60% came from Greenland and 40% from Antarctica, despite Greenland being only about one-eighth the size of Antarctica. The acceleration in ice loss pace between the 1980s and 2010s is four times greater than previously recorded. The researchers noted a slowdown in ice loss between 2020 and 2023, which they attribute to short-term variations rather than a reversal of the long-term trend.

A majority (84%) of the ice loss was due to glaciers speeding up their flow into the ocean, rather than surface melting. This trend is primarily driven by the ice sheets' response to a warming ocean. The total sea-level rise attributed to the ice losses from Greenland and Antarctica might seem minimal at first glance, but it puts an additional 6 to 9 million people at risk of coastal flooding and erosion globally.

These findings underscore the urgent need for coastal planning and protective measures against the adverse effects of ice sheet melting on coastal communities worldwide.