5A glaciologist using remote sensing data observes that a glacier in Greenland lost 12% of its area in one year. If the glacier originally covered 4,500 square kilometers, what is its current area, in square kilometers?

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:07:11 +0000

5A Glaciologist Reveals Dramatic 12% Glacier Loss in Greenland: What This Means for Climate Science In a recent analysis, a lead 5A glaciologist studying remote sensing data reported alarming findings: a major Greenland glacier has lost 12% of its area within just one year—an unprecedented decline signaling accelerating ice loss amid climate change. Using advanced satellite-based remote sensing technology, scientists detected a significant reduction in glacial coverage that underscores the urgent dynamics of polar ice melt. According to the research team, the glacier originally spanned 4,500 square kilometers. Applying the reported 12% loss, the current area calculation reveals critical insights into the impact of rising global temperatures on Greenland’s ice sheet. To determine the glacier’s current area, researchers first calculate 12% of the original 4,500 km²:
12% × 4,500 km² = 0.12 × 4,500 = 540 km²