Scientists bid farewell to the first Icelandic glacier lost to climate change. If more melt, it can be disastrous.

The glacier called Okjokull is the first in the country to be lost to climate change, after the warmest July ever on record.  After months of record temperatures, scientists say Greenland's ice sheet experienced its biggest melt of the summer on Thursday, losing 11 billion tons of surface ice to the ocean -- equivalent to 4.4 million Olympic swimming pools.  They fear all of the island's glaciers will be gone by 2200. Glaciers cover about 11% of Iceland's surface.

Iceland holds a funeral for the melted glacier.  The inscription, titled "A letter to the future," on the monument paints a bleak picture.  "Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and know what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it," the plaque reads in English and Icelandic.

Website:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/18/health/glaciers-melting-climate-change-trnd/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/02/world/greenland-ice-sheet-11-billion-intl/index.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49405023