# Greenland and Antarctica ice mass changes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/greenland-and-antarctica-ice-mass-changes
> Updated: 2026-10-23T17:33:14.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

Long-term satellite data analysis indicates that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have lost between 11 and 12.5 trillion tons of ice since the late 1970s, a process that has accelerated significantly since the 1990s. This melting has contributed to a global sea level rise of over 3 centimeters, driven largely by ocean warming.

However, a specific study published in Nature identified a temporary mass increase in the Antarctic ice sheet of approximately 695 billion tonnes between July 2021 and April 2023. This growth was caused by heavy snowfall in East Antarctica, driven by atmospheric changes from warm tropical oceanic zones. Scientists note that while this snowfall temporarily offset some losses, it does not reverse the long-term trend of ice loss on the continent.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-23: Antarctic ice sheet gains 695 billion tonnes of ice

An Antarctic ice sheet gained 695 billion tonnes of ice between 2021 and 2023 due to heavy snowfall driven by tropical ocean warming.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/antarctic-ice-sheet-gains-695-billion-tonnes-of-ice

### 2026-09-24: Greenland and Antarctica ice loss reaches 12.5 trillion tons

Satellite data shows Greenland and Antarctica have lost up to 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979, contributing to over 3 cm of sea level rise as melting rates have accelerated since the 1990s.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/antarctica-and-greenland-lost-125-trillion-tons-of-ice-since-1979

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Cite as: Greenland and Antarctica ice mass changes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/greenland-and-antarctica-ice-mass-changes