Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:09pm on 17 Sep 2026,Thursday Weather & Environment
About 12.5 trillion tons of ice from glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica have melted since 1979, according to a major scientific report published in Scientific Data. The melt produced nearly 3 quadrillion gallons of water and raised global sea levels by about 3.1 centimetres, with researchers warning that every centimetre of sea-level rise could flood another 2 to 3 million people annually. Five-sixths of the ice loss comes from warmer waters attacking ice sheets from below and sides. Scientists said melting accelerated particularly during the 2010s. Jakobshavn glacier in Greenland is retreating up to 50 metres daily. Researchers warned that dynamic ice loss could contribute to instability and potential tipping points. (PC: AP)
