Greenland: Accelerated ice melt following unprecedented heat wave

A record heat wave caused the Greenland ice sheet to melt 17 times faster than the historical average between May 15 and 21, 2025, warns the scientific network World Weather Attribution (WWA), in a new report cited by AFP. The extreme event also affected Iceland, where unprecedented temperatures were recorded.

"In the absence of climate change, this heat wave would have been impossible," said Friederike Otto, a climatologist at Imperial College London and co-author of the study.

• Summer temperatures on the edge of the Arctic Circle

On May 15, in Iceland, thermometers rose to over 26°C, a value never seen at this time of year in Arctic latitudes. The daily maximum temperature was more than 13°C above the 1991-2020 average, setting records at 94% of Icelandic weather stations. In eastern Greenland, the warmest day was almost 4°C warmer than the pre-industrial average. These temperatures, although moderate in other parts of the world, are considered extreme for the Arctic region, where ecosystems and infrastructure are not adapted to such values.

• Global impact: melting glaciers, rising sea levels

According to the WWA, the accelerated melting of ice is a significant contributor to rising sea levels. This phenomenon has global implications, including for coastal countries vulnerable to flooding and erosion. "A 20°C heat wave may seem trivial in other regions, but in Greenland it triggers rapid melting processes with major effects on the global climate,” warn the researchers. The Arctic region is warming four times faster than the global average, according to a recent study published in Nature.

• Dramatic changes for local populations and infrastructure

For indigenous communities in Greenland, rapid warming means the loss of traditional hunting grounds and a radical change in lifestyle. At the same time, infrastructure designed for the cold is not prepared to cope with high temperatures, and floods caused by melting glaciers can cause significant damage to roads and buildings.