The melting in Greenland linked to global warming caused the layer that covers the island to lose 4,700 tons of ice in the last 20 years, which translated into water would be enough to submerge the entire United States about 50 centimeters (almost 20 inches).
The conclusion was the product of a series of studies carried out by several Danish institutes based on satellite observations of the Grace program.
According to specialists, the 4,700 tons of ice that Greenland has lost since 2002 has been enough to, by itself, raise the sea level by 1.2 centimeters (0.47 inches).
The experts published their findings in an article for the Polar Portal sitein which they explain that the loss of ice is concentrated on the coasts of the Danish autonomous territory.
At this rate, in 50 years the melting of Greenland would raise the sea level between 2.5 and 10 centimeters, that is, between almost one and four inches.
In 80 years, that melting would raise sea levels between five and 13 inches.
However, in 200 years, the melting of Greenland alone would cause the sea level to rise up to 62 inches, more than enough to disappear several island countries and put several coastal cities, such as New York or San Francisco, in check.
The specialists highlighted that global warming is especially alarming in the Arctic, where in recent decades the rate at which the temperature has risen is between three and four times higher than in the rest of the planet.
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