Greenland's ice sheet shrinks for 30th year in a row

Greenland's large ice sheet shrank for the 30th year in a row, broadcaster KNR reported Tuesday.

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) announced that the ice sheet that covers about 80% of Greenland's area shrank in size for the 30th year in a row.

The ice sheet had reportedly been shrinking since 1995/1996, thus not considered a short-term fluctuation.

GEUS described the phenomenon as a "climate signal."

GEUS researcher Signe Hillerup Larsen said the 30 years of consecutive melting was "not at all" a "surprise," but stressed the need to follow the development.

"It's important because the melting of the ice sheet contributes to global sea level. The more ice that melts from the ice sheet, the more the seas rise," she explained.

KNR reported that Greenland's melting season ends in August, while the mass loss is calculated from September to August. The ice sheet reportedly lost a total of around 173 billion tons of ice in the past year.

"We expect the ice to continue to melt for many years to come, when we look at the general trends in the climate, and that it will get warmer," Larsen also said.