Greenland’s Melt Season Started Nearly Two Months Early

[sue4e3]

Little to no melt through winter is the norm as sub-zero temperatures keep Greenland’s massive ice sheet, well, on ice. Warm weather usually kicks off the melt season in late May or early June, but this year is a bit different.

Record warm temperatures coupled with heavy rain mostly sparked 12 percent of the ice sheet to go into meltdown mode (hat tip to Climate Home's Megan Darby). Almost all the melt is currently centered around southwest Greenland.

According to Polar Portal, which monitors all things ice-related in the Arctic, melt season kicks off when 10 percent of the ice sheet experiences surface melt. The previous record for earliest start was May 5, 2010.

This April kickoff is so bizarrely early, scientists who study the ice sheet checked their analysis to make sure something wasn’t amiss before making the announcement.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/greenlands-melt-season-started-nearly-two-months-early-20237

[sue4e3]

1. another link to arctic news

http://polarportal.dk/en/nyheder/arkiv/nyheder/usaedvanlig-tidlig-afsmeltning-i-groenland/

[haikugal]

2. Alaska has leaves on the trees a month early as well...

Thanks for your post, K&R!

[sue4e3]

4. welcome

[daleanime]

3. kick, kick, kick.....