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International team records Petermann’s largest floating-ice
An international research team reports that Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland calves a 76.4 km² ice island on 4 Aug. 2026. The event marks Petermann’s largest loss of floating ice since 2012 and the largest Arctic calving event since 2020.
Petermann Glacier and Nares Strait :
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Calving significance | The calving marks Petermann’s largest loss of floating ice since 2012 and the largest Arctic calving event since 2020. |
| Petermann Glacier: location | Petermann Glacier is located in North-West Greenland, to the east of Nares Strait. |
| Nares Strait: geographic description | Nares Strait is a narrow sea passage between Greenland and Ellesmere Island (Canada) in the far north of the Arctic. |
| Petermann Glacier: physical linkage | Petermann is one of the largest glaciers connecting the Greenland ice sheet with the Arctic Ocean. |
| Area | Petermann Glacier covers 1,295 sq.km. |
| Naming | The glacier and its fjord are named after German cartographer August Heinrich Petermann. |
| Glacier discharge pattern | Petermann periodically sheds large icebergs. |
| Ice flow status | Petermann’s ice flow has accelerated in recent years. |
| Sea-level rise linkage | Land-based glaciers in Greenland are a major contributor to global sea-level rise. |
| Sea-level rise estimate | Scientists estimate that if Petermann collapses completely, sea level would rise by about 30 cm. |