Milne Ice Shelf, Ice shelf in Qikiqtaaluk region, Canada
Milne Ice Shelf is a massive frozen platform extending from the northwest coast of Ellesmere Island over Arctic waters. The formation consists of compacted ice that has accumulated over centuries and creates a stable surface.
The ice shelf remained stable for thousands of years until temperatures rose sharply in 2020. In July of that year, more than half of its area disappeared in just two days.
Scientists collaborate with Inuit communities to document environmental changes and incorporate traditional knowledge into research about the ice shelf's transformations.
Access to the site is extremely limited due to its remote location and harsh Arctic conditions, requiring specialized equipment. Observations are conducted primarily through satellite imagery and occasional scientific expeditions.
When it collapsed, the last ice-dammed lake in the Northern Hemisphere disappeared, a rare body of water trapped between the ice and the sea. The loss of this system fundamentally changed the local wildlife and plant life.
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