Satellite images have revealed record melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet in August, with almost 35% of its surface area melting on the peak day under the influence of heat and rain.
The Greenland Ice Sheet, which covers about 1.7 million square kilometers, continues to lose mass rapidly. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), the 2025 season was “moderately intense,” ranking 19th in the 47-year record. However, mid-August brought an anomalous spike in heat and record melting.
On August 21, almost 35% of the ice sheet’s surface had melted, the highest amount for that date in the history of satellite observations. Heavy rainfall contributed to the process.
Landsat 9 images showed how the southwestern part of the glacier has changed over the past two weeks. The August footage shows large areas of “dirty ice” — a surface darkened by dust and carbon. This reduces the reflectivity of the ice and accelerates its melting. Blue lakes of meltwater also appeared on the surface.
By early September, some of the “dirty” ice was covered by a fresh blanket of snow, slowing the rate of melting. However, as scientists note, the long-term trend remains alarming: in recent decades, Greenland has been losing more ice than it gains, which directly contributes to rising sea levels.
