The surface of Greenland’s massive ice sheet has melted this month over an unusually large area, NASA scientists have discovered.

According to NASA, the “unprecedented” melting took place over a larger area than has been detected in three decades of satellite observation. Besides, melting even occurred at Greenland’s coldest and highest place, where it was last recorded back in 1889.

The thawed ice area jumped from 40% of the ice sheet to 97% in just a couple of days, reports BBC.

Although about half of Greenland’s ice sheet normally melts faster over the summer months, the speed and scale of this year’s thaw has surprised scientists. They describe the phenomenon as “extraordinary”.

“When we see melt in places that we haven’t seen before, at least in a long period of time, it makes you sit up and ask what’s happening,” says NASA chief scientist Waleed Abdalati.

Until now, the most extensive melting seen by satellites in the past three decades was about 55% of the area.

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