Greenland and Antarctica lost 12.5 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979

September 16, 2026 at 09:56 PM1 min

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Greenland and Antarctica have lost about 12.5 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979, according to a study published in Scientific Data. The loss is equivalent to covering the continental United States in 1.5 meters of ice. Ocean warming, not air temperature, drives five-sixths of the loss.

Key Facts

The ice loss totals 12.5 trillion tonnes, equivalent to 11.3 trillion metric tons.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Data.
About five-sixths of the loss is driven by warming ocean waters, not air temperature.
Co-author Eric Rignot of the University of California, Irvine, said ice sheets are melting very fast and sea levels are rising worldwide.

Ice Loss Magnitude

Since 1979, Greenland and Antarctica have lost about 12.5 trillion tonnes of ice, equivalent to 11.3 trillion metric tons. That volume of frozen water would cover the continental United States with a layer of ice about 1.5 meters thick. The findings appear in a new study published in the journal Scientific Data.

Drivers of Melting

Climate warming is accelerating the melting of the planet's two largest ice sheets. About five-sixths of the ice loss is linked not to rising air temperatures but to warming ocean waters that affect the ice sheets from below and along their edges. The study's authors note that accelerated glacier melting leads to further sea level rise and increases risks for coastal areas.

Expert Warning

Co-author Eric Rignot, a specialist at the University of California, Irvine, said ice sheets are melting very fast. He added that polar regions are being lost and sea levels are rising worldwide, which will increase the vulnerability of coastal areas. Earlier reports indicated that glacier melting in the Himalayas accelerated by 65% over ten years.