Rain falls at the summit of Greenland Ice Sheet for first time on record

It occurred as Greenland experienced a major melting event again.

August 19, 2021More than 4 years ago

The National Science Foundation’s Summit Station reaches 10,551 feet in elevation. Summit Station is owned and operated by the NSF Office of Polar Programs with permission from the government of Greenland. (Brant G. Miller via NSF/Dr. Brant G. Miller, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Idaho)

ByKasha Patel

Greenland just experienced another massive melt event this year. But this time, something unusual happened. It also rained at the summit of the ice sheet, nearly two miles above sea level.

Around 6 a.m. Saturday, staff at the National Science Foundation’s Summit Station woke up to raindrops and water beads condensed on the station’s windows. Rain occasionally falls on the ice sheet, but no staff member recalls rain — even a light drizzle — ever occurring at the summit before.

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