Ocean currents along the underside of the ice are a major control over melting.
glaciers & ice sheets
Posted inNews
A Burst of Subglacial Water Cracked the Greenland Ice Sheet
When a lake beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet drained, its water burst through the ice sheet’s surface. This surprising event may have affected the movement of a nearby glacier.
Posted inResearch & Developments
Glacial Lake Outburst Causes Record River Crest in Juneau
The Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, reached a record-breaking crest Wednesday morning thanks to a glacial outburst flood (GLOF) from Suicide Basin. At 16.65 feet, the crest exceeded the previous record flood stage of 15.99 feet in 2024.
Posted inNews
Arctic Ice Shelf Theory Challenged by Ancient Algae
Chemical signatures of marine organisms reveal that seasonal sea ice, not a massive ice shelf, persisted in the southern Arctic Ocean for 750,000 years.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Updates from the Alaska Earthquake Center regarding the 10 August 2025 landslide
The location of this major event has now been identified. It was a major rock slope failure that ran out across the South Sawyer Glacier. The Alaska Earthquake Center has now provided a detailed update about the 10 August 2025 landslide that occurred in the area of Tracy Arm. This work has been led by […]
Posted inOpinions
Glacier Monitoring from Space Is Crucial, and at Risk
A new community effort shows that Earth has lost 5% of its global glacier mass since 2000. The work highlights the necessity of spaceborne glacier observations and upcoming gaps in long-term monitoring.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The possible causes of the Dharali (Tharali) debris flow in Uttarakhand, India
A possible cause of the 5 August 2025 landslide is the failure of a large body of glacial material high in the valley above the village. The imagery that is emerging after the 5 August 2025 debris flow in Dharali (Tharali), in Uttarakhand, northern India make very somber viewing. Melaine Le Roy posted this comparison […]
Posted inEditors' Highlights
What Goes Up Must Come Down: Movement of Water in Europa’s Crust
Using Earth’s glaciers as an analog, a new study explores the possibility of downward propagation of fractures and melt in Europa’s icy crust.
Posted inResearch & Developments
Scientists Ask NSF to Keep Only Antarctic Icebreaker Afloat
On 28 July, more than 170 researchers sent a letter to National Science Foundation leaders and Congress, urging them to reconsider the decision to terminate the lease of the Nathaniel B. Palmer, the United States’ only Antarctic research vessel-icebreaker (RVIB) and a key part of science operations around the White Continent.
Posted inFeatures
Getting Schooled in Complex Earth System Modeling
Training schools focused on modeling solid Earth responses to ice mass changes offer lessons on how early-career scientists can build professional networks and learn skills to solve complex problems.