NASA FILM ON GLACIER MELTING AND 1965 FILM OF GLACIER MELTING BILL KEEFER VIDEO PRODUCTION

Beginning from a view of Greenland's Jakobshavn glacier, this animation shows motion of sea ice and snow cover over the Arctic from 10/1/2002 through 6/23/2003 as the camera pulls out to frame the full globe. The false color of the sea ice is derived from the AMSR-E 6.25 km brightness temperature. The sea ice extent is defined by AMSR-E 12.5 km sea ice concentration, identifying all regions having a sea ice concentration of greater than 15%. Because AMSR-E is a passive microwave sensor that functions independently from atmospheric effects, this sensor is able to observe the entire polar region every day, even through clouds and snowfalls. Note: This animation moves from a view of the Jakobshavn glacier in Greenland to a full global view, showing seasonal changes in Arctic sea ice and global snow cover.

Jakobshavn Isbrae holds the record as Greenland's fastest moving glacier and major contributor to the mass balance of the continental ice sheet. Starting in late 2000, following a period of slowing down in the mid 1990s, the glacier showed significant acceleration and nearly doubled its discharge of ice.