A recent report by the scientific network World Weather Attribution (WWA) revealed that Greenland’s ice sheet experienced melting rates 17 times higher than the historical average during an intense May heatwave, which also impacted Iceland. The Arctic, already the most vulnerable region to climate change, has been warming four times faster than the global average since 1979, as highlighted in a 2022 study published in Nature.
Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the WWA report, explained that such extreme melting significantly accelerates Greenland’s contribution to rising sea levels. “This level of ice loss would have been impossible without human-induced climate change,” she emphasized. The heatwave brought unprecedented temperatures, with Iceland recording 26°C (79°F) on May 15—far above seasonal norms.
The WWA noted that May temperatures in Iceland shattered records, soaring over 13°C above the 1991-2020 average. Iceland’s meteorological agency reported that 94% of its weather stations logged record-breaking heat. Meanwhile, eastern Greenland saw temperatures 3.9°C warmer than pre-industrial levels during the peak of the heatwave.
While a 20°C heatwave may seem mild to many, Otto stressed that such conditions are catastrophic for Arctic regions. “The impacts are global, affecting ecosystems, sea levels, and weather patterns,” she warned. The WWA predicts that similar extreme events could recur every century, but rising global temperatures may increase their frequency.
For Indigenous communities in Greenland, the rapid ice melt disrupts traditional hunting, threatening their livelihoods. Additionally, infrastructure in Greenland and Iceland—designed for cold climates—faces risks like flooding and road damage due to sudden ice thaw. The WWA’s findings underscore the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in vulnerable polar regions.