It has been recorded that sea ice has melted 34 000 km²/yr in the years 1979-2003. Average temperature has been on the rise since 1900.

Components in climate monitoring are:

• Marine environment monitoring, done by Naturinstitut
• Climate monitoring, done by Asiaq (Greenland Survey)
• Biological monitoring, done by DMU: Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser / Århus Universitet (NERI: National Environmental Research Institute / part of University of Aarhus)
• Geological monitoring, done by Københavns Universitet (University of Copenhagen)

In practice, climate monitoring consists of:

• Climate stations by Asiaq
• Bird and reindeer count
• Monitoring biomass and carbon balance in soil
• Monitoring effects of UV-B radiation on vegetation
• Monitoring the marine ecosystem.

The Marinbasis Nuuk monitoring program has been running since 2005. Once every month, physical, chemical and biological parameters are collected from the measurement station. Sediments, mosses and seaweeds (laminaria) are monitored. The monitoring program also tracks connections between melting, Godthåbsfjorden (Nuup Kangerdlua) and Fyllasbanke.

Source: Grønlands Naturinstitut (presentation given during course)