Greenland and Antarctica have lost 12 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979

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Published: 2026-09-18T05:54:14.478Z • Permanent link

Ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica has accelerated to alarming levels, with a staggering 12 trillion tonnes of ice lost since 1979, according to a major scientific study published in the Journal of Glaciology. The alarming rate of ice loss has been driven by rising temperatures, primarily caused by human-induced climate change. Dr. Eric Rignot, a lead author of the study and a glaciologist at the University of California, Irvine, notes that the acceleration of ice loss has been observed over the past few decades. "We've seen a significant increase in the rate of ice loss in Greenland, particularly since the 1990s," he said.

The study's findings are based on satellite data and ground-based measurements, which reveal that the Greenland ice sheet has lost approximately 300 billion tonnes of ice per year since 2003. The Antarctic ice sheet, on the other hand, has lost around 150 billion tonnes of ice per year since 2013. The rapid loss of ice has significant implications for global sea levels, with the World Meteorological Organization estimating that a 1-metre rise in sea levels could displace millions of people worldwide.

NASA's Operation IceBridge, a research program that uses satellite imagery to monitor the Earth's ice sheets, has played a crucial role in the study. The program has been tracking the melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica since 2009, providing critical data for scientists to understand the impacts of climate change on these regions. Dr. Rignot emphasizes the importance of continued research in this area, saying, "We need to keep monitoring the ice sheets to understand the impacts of climate change and to develop strategies for mitigating them.

The rapid loss of ice in Greenland and Antarctica has significant implications for the global economy, particularly in the insurance and shipping industries. Companies such as Lloyd's of London and Amlin have already begun to account for the increased risk of sea-level rise in their business models. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that the global economy could lose up to 11% of its value by 2100 if sea levels rise by 1 metre.

The loss of ice also has significant implications for research communities, particularly those focused on climate change and glaciology. The National Snow and Ice Data Center, which provides critical data on ice sheets and glaciers, has seen a significant increase in requests for data from researchers in recent years. The center's director, Dr. John Sonnenthal, notes that the increased demand for data is driven by the growing recognition of the impacts of climate change on these regions. "We're seeing a lot of interest from researchers who want to understand the dynamics of ice sheets and glaciers," he said.

The rapid loss of ice in Greenland and Antarctica is part of a larger pattern of climate change that has been observed globally. The past decade has seen a significant increase in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, which have had devastating impacts on communities around the world. The IPCC's fifth assessment report, published in 2014, noted that climate change is having a profound impact on global weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe weather events.