Greenland’s ice sheet is recording an unusually strong build-up of snow and ice deep into late April, with recent data showing surface mass gains well above historical averages.
Daily surface mass balance has surged beyond the 1981–2010 norm, including an estimated gain of around 7 gigatons on April 21 alone.
Sustained snowfall has continued to replenish the ice sheet at a time when accumulation typically begins to slow, pushing widespread gains across much of the interior. While some melting persists along narrow coastal margins—considered typical for this time of year—the scale and persistence of inland accumulation are drawing attention.
Scientists note that the current trend is approaching record levels for April, highlighting an uncommon late-season surge in ice growth on the world’s largest island.
