The glacier lost 12% of 4,500 km², which is 0.12 × 4,500 = 540 km².

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

Glacier Losing 12% of Its Mass: A 540 km² Loss in Just One Year In a striking warning about accelerating climate change, scientists have confirmed that a major glacier has lost 12% of its total area over just one year—equivalent to 540 square kilometers (km²) of ice receding from retreat. This dramatic shrinkage, calculated as 0.12 × 4,500 km² = 540 km², underscores the rapid transformation of Earth’s cryosphere in the face of rising global temperatures. ### How Much Area Was Lost? The glacier in question once spanned an impressive 4,500 km², but recent measurements reveal a significant loss: 12% of this area equals 540 km². To visualize this loss, imagine over 500,000 football fields disappearing in a single year—highlighting the scale and urgency of glacial retreat.