• Photo
These undated handout images provided by NASA shows the extent of surface melt over Greenland’s ice sheet on July 8, left, and July 12, right.

These undated handout images provided by NASA shows the extent of surface melt over Greenland’s ice sheet on July 8, left, and July 12, right.(AP Photo/Nicolo E. DiGirolamo, SSAI/NASA GSFC, and Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory)

  • More Offbeat and Strange News
Police: 'Thong Cape Scooter…

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A man who wears thong underwear and a cape while riding his scooter …

Car uses tweets and social media to run
Car uses tweets and social media to run

The car is an old-school Volkswagen Karmann Gia, but there's …

Brown hounded for calling…

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Dan Brown's description of Manila as "the gates of hell" in …

Fugitive in LA attempted-murder…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man wanted for 13 years on attempted murder charges in Los Angeles …

Council members abstain from…

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Three members of a Michigan city council have abstained from …

Advertisement

NASA: Strange and sudden massive melt in Greenland

Updated: Thursday, 26 Jul 2012, 10:52 AM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 24 Jul 2012, 3:16 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists say there's been a freak event in Greenland this month: Nearly every part of the massive ice sheet that blankets the island suddenly started melting.

Even Greenland's coldest place showed melting. Records show that last happened in 1889 and occurs about once every 150 years.

NASA says three satellites saw what it calls unprecedented melting over four days beginning July 8. Most of the thick ice remains. But what was unusual was that the melting occurred over a widespread area.

NASA says the melting area went from 40 percent of the ice sheet to 97 percent. Until now, the most extensive melt seen by satellites in the past 30 years was about 55 percent.

Scientists can't say yet if the melting is from global warming or natural.


Opinions that are derogatory, attack other users or are offensive in nature may be removed. KXAN is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section. We reserve the right to remove any offensive or off-topic remark or thread. To mark a comment for review by a moderator, click "Report Abuse."

 

comments powered by Disqus

Advertisement
Advertisement

Site Tools

Advertisement