The ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica lost a total of 12.5 trillion tons of ice over the 47 years since 1979. A study published in the journal Scientific Data found that the amount of ice lost would be enough to cover the United States with a layer of water approximately 1.5 meters deep.
The researchers used data from 27 observation satellites and the findings of 45 independent scientific studies to examine changes in the world's two largest ice sheets. The volume of melted ice is equivalent to approximately 11.3 quadrillion liters of water.
The impact of oceans on ice loss
According to the study, about four-fifths of the ice loss is linked to warmer ocean waters rather than rising air temperatures. These waters are eroding the ice sheets from below and along their edges.
As the melted ice enters the oceans, it contributes to rising sea levels. The study found that, together with other climate factors, this process has raised global sea levels by approximately 3.1 centimeters since 1979.
Growing risk for coastal areas
Eric Rignot, a researcher at the University of California, said the shrinking ice sheets were increasing the vulnerability of coastal areas. Ines Otosaka, a co-author of the study at Northumbria University, emphasized that even a 1-centimeter rise in sea levels significantly increases the risk of flooding for millions of people.
Researcher Andrew Shepherd said the ice sheets had remained relatively stable in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, while the most pronounced acceleration in melting began in the 2010s.
Shepherd said changes in the ice masses lag behind global warming and that the retreat of glaciers could continue for decades even if the planet's temperature stabilizes.
