New island suddenly emerged in the middle of Alaska, NASA alarmed

NASA discovered that a 5.18km² block of land in Alaska that was once covered by ice has now emerged as an isolated island in the middle of Lake Alsek. Remarkably, the process of forming the new island took place in just 1 month.

NASA satellite images show the appearance of new islands from 1984 - 2025 - Photo: NASA

Experts warn this is clear evidence of the rapid rate of ice melting in the Arctic region, and the strong changes in the ecosystem caused by climate change.

41 years of changing terrain: from white ice to green island

This topographic change was determined through a comparison of NASA Landsat satellite images taken in July 1984 and August 2025. The data shows that the ice sheet that was once attached to a mountain called Prow Knob has completely broken away, turning the area into a virtual island.

Remarkably, the formation of the new island took place in less than a month: from July 13 to August 6 this year, when high summer temperatures fueled record-breaking ice melt.

NASA experts warn that this phenomenon is part of a worrying trend: glaciers in southeast Alaska are melting rapidly. As the ice sheet, which has been thick for thousands of years, melts, the water accumulates to form large lakes, completely changing the topography of the area.

"At the beginning of the 20th century, Alsek Glacier extended as far as Gateway Knob, about 3 miles west of Prow Knob," said Mauri Pelto, a researcher at Nichols College and a member of the NASA Earth Observatory's science advisory board. "By mid-century, the ice had retreated east but still covered Prow Knob. Now, the ice is almost completely gone."

Satellite data studies show that Lake Alsek has increased in size from 44km² in 1984 to 75km² in 2025. Not only that, neighboring glacial lakes such as Harlequin and Grand Plateau are also expanding at a similar rate.

The total area of ​​the three lakes has doubled in just 41 years, reflecting an unprecedented rate of melting in the region’s history. As the ice retreats, the dark surface of the rock beneath absorbs more heat, accelerating the melting process, a “warming spiral” that is hard to control.

Warning signs from climate change

The formation of the new island in Alaska is not only a fascinating geological event, but also a warning sign about the pace of global warming. As ice sheets break apart and become less stable, they break apart more easily and melt more quickly, causing lake levels to rise and changing the flow of rivers in the area.

Experts predict that this trend will continue to accelerate in the coming years if global average temperatures are not controlled, affecting not only Alaska but also global sea levels, biodiversity, marine ecosystems and the climate of the entire Earth.

The melting of Alaska’s ice is just a small part of a larger picture of global climate change. From Greenland to Antarctica, from the Himalayas to the Andes, glaciers are melting at record rates, posing an unprecedented challenge to humans in protecting habitats.

As NASA puts it, “every meter of ice lost today is a reminder that Earth is changing faster than we think.”

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dao-moi-bat-ngo-troi-len-giua-alaska-nasa-bao-dong-20250909100653794.htm