Satellite Data Shows 12.5 Trillion Tons of Ice Lost in Greenland and Antarctica Since 1979

A major scientific report has revealed that Earth has lost more than 12 trillion tons of ice from Greenland and Antarctica over the past 47 years. Data collected by satellites since 1979 indicates that the total volume of melted ice reaches approximately 12.5 trillion tons, or 11.3 trillion metric tons.

The scale of this ice loss is significant, representing a substantial reduction in the planet's frozen water reserves. Researchers have noted that the amount of ice lost is equivalent to covering the entire continental United States in a layer of ice five feet, or 1.5 meters, deep.

The findings are based on long-term satellite observations that have tracked changes in the polar regions since the late 1970s. These measurements provide a comprehensive view of how glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica have responded to environmental changes over nearly five decades.

The report serves as a definitive record of the ice mass reduction observed during this period. By synthesizing satellite data, scientists have been able to quantify the total loss, highlighting the ongoing changes occurring within the world's largest ice sheets.