Greenland and Antarctica lose more than 12 trillion tons of ice in 47 years

An international polar-science team combined European and NASA satellite records to extend Antarctic ice data back to 1979 and Greenland data to 1972. The two ice sheets lost more than 12 trillion tons over 47 years, creating roughly 11.3 quadrillion liters of meltwater and raising global sea level by about 3.1 centimeters.