# Greenland ice sheet melting and thinning

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/greenland-ice-sheet-melting-and-thinning
> Updated: 2026-09-26T06:10:01.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Recent scientific observations and expeditions have documented significant ice loss across Greenland. Satellite imagery from the European Space Agency shows the Jakobshavn Glacier on the western coast undergoing rapid melting and continuous calving of massive ice blocks into the ocean, a process accelerated by warming ocean water.

In northwest Greenland, research from Hokkaido University indicates the Qaanaaq ice cap lost an average thickness of 8.7 meters over a 13-year period ending in 2025. This thinning is attributed to rising summer temperatures and shifts in glacier movement. To gather field data, the SILA expedition completed a 1,783-kilometer traverse across the ice cap in early 2026, collecting measurements on snow density and temperature to support international research institutions.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-26: Qaanaaq ice cap shows significant thinning in Greenland

Research and a 1,783-km scientific expedition reveal the Qaanaaq ice cap in Greenland has lost an average of 8.7 meters of ice thickness over 13 years due to rising temperatures and shifting glacier movements.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/qaanaaq-ice-cap-shows-significant-thinning-in-greenland

### 2026-09-18: Jakobshavn Glacier shows rapid ice loss in new satellite imagery

ESA satellite imagery shows rapid ice loss at Greenland's Jakobshavn Glacier, part of a broader trend where polar ice sheets have lost 11 trillion tonnes over 50 years, contributing to rising sea levels.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakobshavn-glacier-shows-rapid-ice-loss-in-new-satellite-imagery

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Cite as: Greenland ice sheet melting and thinning. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/greenland-ice-sheet-melting-and-thinning