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July 2, 2026 - Sea Ice off Greenland
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Early summer weather hastened the melting of sea ice off northeastern Greenland by late June 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the region on June 30.
Greenland’s rugged coast is filled with fjords—glacier-carved canyons flooded by seawater—while the great white icecap tops the center of the island. Several glaciers can be seen trekking from the ice through the fjords into the sea.
Off the coast, chunks and bits of sea ice ride the currents to created a gorgeous paisley pattern. In this area, a strong current flows southward near the coast and, just to the east, a second ocean current flows northward. As sea ice breaks up in the late spring and summer, these currents both hasten break-up and help create beautiful patterns. On the far eastern side of this image, fluffy white cloud completes the picture of a summer day in northeastern Greenland.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (106.5 KB), 500m (288.2 KB), 250m (379.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Early summer weather hastened the melting of sea ice off northeastern Greenland by late June 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the region on June 30.
Greenland’s rugged coast is filled with fjords—glacier-carved canyons flooded by seawater—while the great white icecap tops the center of the island. Several glaciers can be seen trekking from the ice through the fjords into the sea.
Off the coast, chunks and bits of sea ice ride the currents to created a gorgeous paisley pattern. In this area, a strong current flows southward near the coast and, just to the east, a second ocean current flows northward. As sea ice breaks up in the late spring and summer, these currents both hasten break-up and help create beautiful patterns. On the far eastern side of this image, fluffy white cloud completes the picture of a summer day in northeastern Greenland.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (106.5 KB), 500m (288.2 KB), 250m (379.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
