Greenland’s ice sheets are melting extensively, even in some inland areas, according to an image generated from data obtained by a Japanese climate-observation satellite.
Data from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Shizuku satellite shows the ice has been in retreat most noticeably in the southern part of the vast island.
“In the south, ice is melting in many locations, even in inland areas at high altitudes,” said Kazuhiro Naoki, who analyzed the satellite data.
In the image, the different hues of blue represent how many days the ice melted. Darker blue indicates where ice melted for longer periods.
The Shizuku satellite, which was carried into space on an H-2A rocket in May, observed the ice sheets between July 3 and 9. The data was analyzed at JAXA’s Earth Observation Research Center.
Greenland’s ice sheets have been surveyed since 2002. The extent of melting found in the satellite survey was similar to those seen in 2002 and 2007, when widespread melting was observed.
