"After months of record temperatures, scientists say Greenland's ice sheet experienced its biggest melt of the summer on Thursday, losing 11 billion tons of surface ice to the ocean -- equivalent to 4.4 million Olympic swimming pools.

Greenland's ice sheet usually melts during the summer, but the melt season typically begins around the end of May; this year it began at the start. It has been melting "persistently" over the past four months, which have recorded all time temperature highs, according to Ruth Mottram, a climate scientist with Danish Meteorological Institute.

This July alone, Greenland's ice sheet lost 197 billion tons of ice -- the equivalent of around 80 million Olympic swimming pools -- according to Mottram. She told CNN the expected average would be between 60-70 billion tons at this time of year."

Mark Tutton reports for CNN August 2, 2019. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"The Greenland Ice Sheet Poured 197 Billion Tons Of Water Into The North Atlantic In July Alone" (Washington Post) [3]

"The Greenland Ice Sheet Is In The Throes Of One Of Its Greatest Melting Events Ever Recorded" (Washington Post) [4]

"Historic Greenland Melt Is 'Glimpse Of The Future'" (ClimateWire) [5]