PHOTOS: Western Greenland hit by unseasonably warm weather

In this aerial view ice floats jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view ice floats jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The Sahara heat wave that recently sent temperatures to record levels in parts of Europe is arriving in Greenland.

Climate change is having a profound effect in Greenland, where over the last several decades summers have become longer and the rate that glaciers and the Greenland ice cap are retreating has accelerated.

According to a local biologist, is leading some species of flowers to blossom twice rather than only once.

Eqip Sermia is located approximately 215 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and while the calving of ice from its face is a natural process going back millions of years, the glacier's retreat of about two miles over the last 100 years is a new phenomenon. (Getty)

Photography by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

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Icebergs float jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord in a bank of fog during a week of unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Icebergs float jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord in a bank of fog during a week of unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The original hut built by a French exploration team led by Paul-Emile Victor in 1948 stands opposite the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The original hut built by a French exploration team led by Paul-Emile Victor in 1948 stands opposite the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this view from an airplane rivers of meltwater carve into the Greenland ice sheet near Sermeq Avangnardleq glacier near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this view from an airplane rivers of meltwater carve into the Greenland ice sheet near Sermeq Avangnardleq glacier near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
 In this view from an airplane icebergs float at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this view from an airplane icebergs float at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view meltwater forms a pond on an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view meltwater forms a pond on an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A humpback whale swims next to an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A humpback whale swims next to an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
 In this aerial view icebergs and ice float jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view icebergs and ice float jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Icebergs and ice float in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Icebergs and ice float in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
 Icebergs in the Ilulissat Icefjord  loom behind buildings in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Icebergs in the Ilulissat Icefjord loom behind buildings in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Flowers called arctic harebell (campanula uniflora) stand across from the Eqip Sermia glacier during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Flowers called arctic harebell (campanula uniflora) stand across from the Eqip Sermia glacier during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, is seen behind a moraine left exposed by the glacier's retreat during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, is seen behind a moraine left exposed by the glacier's retreat during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A boat carrying visitors motors past icebergs in the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A boat carrying visitors motors past icebergs in the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Humpback whales spout water as they swim next to an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Humpback whales spout water as they swim next to an iceberg in the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view ice that has broken off from the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, drifts away from the glacier's 200 meter tall face during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view ice that has broken off from the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, drifts away from the glacier's 200 meter tall face during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view water from the Greenland ice sheet rushes down at what a local guide said is an unprecedentedly high level in the last 19 years during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view water from the Greenland ice sheet rushes down at what a local guide said is an unprecedentedly high level in the last 19 years during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg drifts near the 200 meter tall face of the Eqip Sermia glacier, also called the Eqi glacier, during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg drifts near the 200 meter tall face of the Eqip Sermia glacier, also called the Eqi glacier, during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg that looks like a reclining cat stands in a cove during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg that looks like a reclining cat stands in a cove during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Ice that has broken off from the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, drifts away from the glacier's 200 meter tall face during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Ice that has broken off from the Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, drifts away from the glacier's 200 meter tall face during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Visitors walk among free-floating ice jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Visitors walk among free-floating ice jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, stands during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Eqip Sermia Glacier, also called the Eqi Glacier, stands during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view water from the Greenland ice sheet rushes down at what a local guide said is an unprecedentedly high level in the last 19 years during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
In this aerial view water from the Greenland ice sheet rushes down at what a local guide said is an unprecedentedly high level in the last 19 years during unseasonably warm weather at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Free-floating ice floats jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Free-floating ice floats jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg floats in Disko Bay behind houses during unseasonably warm weather in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An iceberg floats in Disko Bay behind houses during unseasonably warm weather in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Water drips from ice in the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Water drips from ice in the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Visitors look out onto free-floating ice jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Visitors look out onto free-floating ice jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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