On 4 August 2026, a huge piece of ice broke away from Petermann Glacier in Greenland. The ice section covered 76 square kilometres – about the size of Manhattan. Scientists used Sentinel-1, a European satellite, to watch this event. This satellite can see through clouds and darkness, so it works well for watching glaciers. The ice was estimated to be up to 150 metres thick.
Scientists have been studying this glacier since 2019. They come from Canada and the United Kingdom. The team watched the ice carefully and saw cracks growing slowly. When large pieces break from Arctic glaciers, this is quite rare. These ice islands can stay in the ocean for years before they melt. Understanding glaciers helps scientists learn about our planet.