Sentinel-1 captures major ice loss from Greenland glacier
Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar imagery detected a 76 sq km ice loss from Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland on 4 August 2026, the largest since 2012.
Europe’s Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission recorded the detachment of a 76 sq km section of Petermann Glacier’s floating ice tongue on 4 August 2026, marking the glacier’s most significant ice loss since 2012. The event produced a tabular iceberg estimated at up to 150 metres thick, comparable in size to Manhattan. Radar observations revealed rapid deterioration along the ice tongue’s centreline prior to the calving, highlighting the glacier’s instability.
An international research team, partially funded through ESA’s FutureEO ARCTEX project, has monitored Petermann Glacier since 2019 using Sentinel-1 radar data. Scientists from the University of Ottawa, UK universities, and the Canadian Ice Service documented growing fractures and deformation in the glacier’s floating ice tongue. Interferometric observations in April 2026 showed structural weaknesses months before the calving event, providing early warnings of the glacier’s instability.
Researchers anticipate further major calving events at Petermann Glacier, with two additional ice islands of approximately 97 and 87 sq km potentially detaching as existing rifts expand. Arctic ice islands are rare compared to Antarctic tabular icebergs, offering unique insights into glacier dynamics and sea-level impacts. The team will continue tracking the newly formed iceberg and its fragmentation to study Arctic ice island behaviour and glacier evolution.
The calving event has practical implications for Arctic navigation and offshore operations, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada to monitor the iceberg’s trajectory for risks to shipping routes and infrastructure. Large ice masses can persist for years, breaking into smaller fragments that are difficult to detect, underscoring the need for sustained satellite observations to assess hazards in polar regions.