Satellites show Earth lost more than 12 trillion tons of ice from Greenland, Antarctica in 47 years

Key Points:

• Since 1979, approximately 12.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from Greenland and Antarctica's glaciers, enough to cover the continental U.S. with 5 feet of ice, according to a new scientific report.
• The majority of the ice melt—about five-sixths—is caused by warmer ocean waters eroding the ice sheets from below and the sides, rather than from rising air temperatures, accelerating sea level rise.
• This melting has contributed to nearly a one-inch rise in global sea levels since 1979, which translates to millions of people facing annual flooding risks with each incremental rise.
• Satellite data extending back to the 1970s reveal that ice sheets were stable until the 1990s, with melting intensifying notably in the 2010s, a trend linked to climate change and expected to continue for decades even if global warming is halted.
• Scientists warn that dynamic ice loss processes could trigger irreversible tipping points, posing significant long-term threats to coastal regions and highlighting the urgent need for climate action.