Winter sea ice edge shaped by Antarctic Circumpolar Current pathways

Winter sea ice edge shaped by Antarctic Circumpolar Current pathways Hugues Goosse, Stephy Libera, Alberto C. Naveira Garabato, Benjamin Richaud, Alessandro Silvano, and Martin Vancoppenolle The Cryosphere, 19, 5763–5779, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5763-2025, 2025 The position of the winter sea ice edge in the Southern Ocean is strongly linked to the one of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and thus to ocean bathymetry. This is due to the influence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current on the southward heat flux that limits sea ice expansion, directly through oceanic processes and indirectly through its influence on atmospheric heat transport.

Massive hidden waves are rapidly melting Greenland’s glaciers

Researchers in Greenland used a 10-kilometer fiber-optic cable to track how iceberg calving stirs up warm seawater. The resulting surface tsunamis and massive hidden underwater waves intensify melting at the glacier face. This powerful mixing effect accelerates ice loss far more than previously understood. The work highlights how fragile the Greenland ice system has become as temperatures rise.

Satellite images reveal the fastest Antarctic glacier retreat ever

Hektoria Glacier’s sudden eight-kilometer collapse stunned scientists, marking the fastest modern ice retreat ever recorded in Antarctica. Its flat, below-sea-level ice plain allowed huge slabs of ice to detach rapidly once retreat began. Seismic activity confirmed this wasn’t just floating ice but grounded mass contributing to sea level rise. The event raises alarms that other fragile glaciers may be poised for similar, faster-than-expected collapses.

Doomed descent? How fast sulphate signals diffuse in the EPICA Dome C ice column

Doomed descent? How fast sulphate signals diffuse in the EPICA Dome C ice column Felix S. L. Ng, Rachael H. Rhodes, Tyler J. Fudge, and Eric W. Wolff The Cryosphere, 19, 5693–5717, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5693-2025, 2025 Impurity diffusion in ice destroys climate history. We give a new way to find the diffusion rate from ice-core records. Its use on sulphate of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica Dome C core reveals rapid diffusion in snow (suggesting H2SO4 vapour diffusion in air pores) and slow diffusion in the ice below (involving signal relocation between crystal interfaces). We estimate a maximum sulphate diffusion length of 2 cm for the old ice sought by the coring projects on Little Dome C.

Author Correction: Record grounded glacier retreat caused by an ice plain calving process

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 14 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01877-z

Fears for elephant seals as bird flu kills half of population in South Atlantic

Study estimates 53,000 females have died on South Georgia since 2023, with ‘dramatic impact’ on future of the species

Bird flu has wiped out half of South Georgia’s breeding elephant seals, according to a study that warns of “serious implications” for the future of the species.

The remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean is home to the world’s largest southern elephant seal population. Researchers estimate 53,000 females died after bird flu hit in 2023.

Review article: using spaceborne lidar for snow depth retrievals: recent findings and utility for hydrologic applications

Review article: using spaceborne lidar for snow depth retrievals: recent findings and utility for hydrologic applications Zachary Fair, Carrie Vuyovich, Thomas Neumann, Justin Pflug, David Shean, Ellyn M. Enderlin, Karina Zikan, Hannah Besso, Jessica Lundquist, Cesar Deschamps-Berger, and Désirée Treichler The Cryosphere, 19, 5671–5691, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5671-2025, 2025 Lidar is commonly used to measure snow over global water reservoirs. However, ground-based and airborne lidar surveys are expensive, so satellite-based methods are needed. In this review, we outline the latest research using satellite-based lidar to monitor snow. Best practices for lidar-based snow monitoring are given, as is a discussion on challenges in this field of research.

Space dust reveals how fast the Arctic is changing

Arctic sea ice is disappearing fast, and scientists have turned to an unexpected cosmic clue—space dust—to uncover how ice has changed over tens of thousands of years. By tracking helium-3–bearing dust trapped (or blocked) by ancient ice, researchers built a remarkably detailed history of Arctic coverage stretching back 30,000 years. Their findings reveal powerful links between sea ice, nutrient availability, and the Arctic food web, offering hints about how future warming may reshape everything from plankton blooms to geopolitics.

Imprints of sea ice, wind patterns, and atmospheric systems on summer water isotope signatures at Hercules Névé, East Antarctica

Imprints of sea ice, wind patterns, and atmospheric systems on summer water isotope signatures at Hercules Névé, East Antarctica Songyi Kim, Yeongcheol Han, Jiwoong Chung, Seokhyun Ro, Jangil Moon, Soon Do Hur, and Jeonghoon Lee The Cryosphere, 19, 5655–5670, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5655-2025, 2025 This study integrates high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis with precise ice core isotope measurements to assess summer water isotope variability at Hercules Névé in East Antarctica. By focusing on the austral summer (DJF), it minimizes post-depositional effects and elucidates the roles of temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns, including effects from the Amundsen Sea Low and Zonal Wave-3. The 40-year record refines paleoclimate reconstructions and Antarctic climate understanding.

Impact of non-normal flow rule on linear kinematic features in pan-Arctic ice-ocean simulations

Impact of non-normal flow rule on linear kinematic features in pan-Arctic ice-ocean simulations Jean-François Lemieux, Mathieu Plante, Nils Hutter, Damien Ringeisen, Bruno Tremblay, François Roy, and Philippe Blain The Cryosphere, 19, 5639–5654, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5639-2025, 2025 In sea ice models, the flow rule determines how sea ice deforms (opening, closing and shearing) when critical stresses are reached. We implemented in CICE a novel approach to define the flow rule. This is a useful capability as it allows to independently optimize critical stresses and deformations. As opposed to the standard flow rule, the novel approach can lead to a thicker and more active sea ice cover with narrower deformations. 

Greetings from the Arctic Circle, where an icebreaker ship drew polar bears' attention

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

Four-dimensional variational data assimilation with a sea-ice thickness emulator

Four-dimensional variational data assimilation with a sea-ice thickness emulator Charlotte Durand, Tobias Sebastian Finn, Alban Farchi, Marc Bocquet, Julien Brajard, and Laurent Bertino The Cryosphere, 19, 5613–5637, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5613-2025, 2025 This paper presents a four-dimensional variational data assimilation system based on a neural network emulator for sea-ice thickness, learned from neXtSIM (neXt generation Sea Ice Model) simulation outputs. Testing with simulated and real observation retrievals, the system improves forecasts and bias error, performing comparably to operational methods, demonstrating the promise of sea-ice data-driven data assimilation systems.

Multitemporal analysis of Sentinel-1 backscatter during snowmelt using high-resolution field measurements and radiative transfer modelling

Multitemporal analysis of Sentinel-1 backscatter during snowmelt using high-resolution field measurements and radiative transfer modelling Francesca Carletti, Carlo Marin, Chiara Ghielmini, Mathias Bavay, and Michael Lehning The Cryosphere, 19, 5579–5612, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5579-2025, 2025 This work presents the first high-resolution dataset of wet-snow properties for satellite applications. With it, we validate links between Sentinel-1 backscatter and snowmelt stages and investigate scattering mechanisms through a radiative transfer model. We disclose the influence of liquid water content and surface roughness at different melting stages and address future challenges, such as capturing large-scale scattering mechanisms and enhancing radiative transfer modules for wet snow.

Investigating firn structure and density in the accumulation area of the Grosser Aletschgletscher using ground-penetrating radar

Investigating firn structure and density in the accumulation area of the Grosser Aletschgletscher using ground-penetrating radar Akash M. Patil, Christoph Mayer, Thorsten Seehaus, Alexander R. Groos, and Andreas Bauder The Cryosphere, 19, 5547–5577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5547-2025, 2025 We studied how the density of snow to ice transition varies with depth in the Aletsch glacier using radar-based field measurements and some simple models. We showed that it is possible to track how much snow has accumulated in the last 10–14 years. This helps improve the uncertainties in glacier mass balance estimates.  Overall, by utilising non-invasive radar techniques and models, we provide a novel approach to understanding the evolution of glaciers under regional climate conditions.

Chinese researchers reveal unexplored section of mysterious Arctic Ocean ridge

Nature, Published online: 12 November 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03679-0

Radio burst from a stellar coronal mass ejection

Nature, Published online: 12 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09715-3

Using observations of surface fracture to address ill-posed ice softness estimation over Pine Island Glacier

Using observations of surface fracture to address ill-posed ice softness estimation over Pine Island Glacier Trystan Surawy-Stepney, Stephen L. Cornford, and Anna E. Hogg The Cryosphere, 19, 5531–5545, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5531-2025, 2025 The speed at which Antarctic ice flows is dependent on its viscosity and the slipperiness of the ice/bedrock interface. Often, these unknown variables are inferred from observations of ice speed. This article presents an attempt to make this difficult procedure easier by making use of additional information in the form of observations of crevasses, which make ice appear less viscous to numerical models. We find in some circumstances that this leads to more appealing solutions to this problem.

Space Dust on the Ocean Floor Helps Solve Arctic Ice Puzzle from 30,000 Years Ago

Discover how tracing space dust in Arctic seafloor sediment can help us understand how ice coverage changed over millennia, without the need for satellites.

Ocean-induced weakening of George VI Ice Shelf, West Antarctica

Ocean-induced weakening of George VI Ice Shelf, West Antarctica Ann-Sofie P. Zinck, Bert Wouters, Franka Jesse, and Stef Lhermitte The Cryosphere, 19, 5509–5529, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5509-2025, 2025 Ocean-driven basal melting of ice shelves can carve channels into the ice shelf base. These channels represent potential weak areas of the ice shelf. On George VI Ice shelf we discover a new channel which onset coincides with the 2015 El-Nino Southern Oscillation event. Since the channel has developed rapidly and is located within a highly channelized area close to the ice shelf front it poses a potential thread of ice shelf retreat.

Brief communication: Decadal changes in topography, surface water and subsurface structure across an Arctic coastal tundra site

Brief communication: Decadal changes in topography, surface water and subsurface structure across an Arctic coastal tundra site Jonathan A. Bachman, John Lamb, Craig Ulrich, Neslihan Taş, and Baptiste Dafflon The Cryosphere, 19, 5499–5508, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5499-2025, 2025 We studied how Arctic landscapes change as the ground thaws by comparing measurements taken ten years apart. We found that some areas sank and new ponds formed, with different patterns depending on the shape of the land. These changes affect how water and carbon flow and cycle through the environment. The results help understand how and where the Arctic is shifting, and highlight the need for repeated observations to track long-term changes.

9,000-year-old ice melt shows how fast Antarctica can fall apart

Around 9,000 years ago, East Antarctica went through a dramatic meltdown that was anything but isolated. Scientists have discovered that warm deep ocean water surged beneath the region’s floating ice shelves, causing them to collapse and unleashing a domino effect of ice loss across the continent. This process created a “cascading positive feedback,” where melting in one area sped up melting elsewhere through interconnected ocean currents.

Laser satellites expose a secret Antarctic carbon burst

A new study shows that the Southern Ocean releases far more carbon dioxide in winter than once thought. By combining laser satellite data with AI analysis, scientists managed to “see” through the polar darkness for the first time. The results reveal a 40% undercount in winter emissions, changing how researchers view the ocean’s carbon balance and its impact on climate models.

Snow Water Equivalent from airborne Ku-band data: the Trail Valley Creek 2018/19 snow experiment

Snow Water Equivalent from airborne Ku-band data: the Trail Valley Creek 2018/19 snow experiment Benoit Montpetit, Julien Meloche, Vincent Vionnet, Chris Derksen, Georgina Woolley, Nicolas R. Leroux, Paul Siqueira, J. Max Adam, and Mike Brady The Cryosphere, 19, 5465–5484, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5465-2025, 2025 This paper presents the workflow to retrieve snow water equivalent from radar measurements for the future Canadian radar satellite mission, Terrestrial Snow Mass Mission. The workflow is validated by using airborne radar data collected at Trail Valley Creek, Canada, during winter 2018–2019. We detail important considerations to have in the context of a satellite mission over a vast region such as Canada. Results show that it is possible to achieve the desired accuracy over an Arctic environment.

New evidence on the microstructural localization of sulfur and chlorine in polar ice cores with implications for impurity diffusion

New evidence on the microstructural localization of sulfur and chlorine in polar ice cores with implications for impurity diffusion Pascal Bohleber, Nicolas Stoll, Piers Larkman, Rachael H. Rhodes, and David Clases The Cryosphere, 19, 5485–5498, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5485-2025, 2025 To avoid misinterpretation of impurity signals in ice cores, post-depositional changes need to be identified. Peak broadening with depth observed especially for S was previously related to diffusion in ice veins, but the exact physical mechanisms remain unclear. Our two-dimensional impurity maps by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were extended for the first time to S and Cl and support a view on diffusion not only through veins but also along grain boundaries.

Past Arctic Sea Ice Levels Recreated by Traces of Cosmic Dust

Extraterrestrial particles found at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean could unlock at least 30,000 years of sea ice history, a new study finds.

Antarctica’s collapse may already be unstoppable, scientists warn

Researchers warn Antarctica is undergoing abrupt changes that could trigger global consequences. Melting ice, collapsing ice shelves, and disrupted ocean circulation threaten sea levels, ecosystems, and climate stability. Wildlife such as penguins and krill face growing extinction risks. Scientists stress that only rapid emission reductions can avert irreversible damage.

Sensitivity of iceberg drift and deterioration simulations to input data from different ocean, sea ice and atmosphere models in the Barents Sea

Sensitivity of iceberg drift and deterioration simulations to input data from different ocean, sea ice and atmosphere models in the Barents Sea Lia Herrmannsdörfer, Raed Khalil Lubbad, and Knut Vilhelm Høyland The Cryosphere, 19, 5445–5463, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5445-2025, 2025 Numerical simulations of iceberg drift and deterioration are a useful tool to fill the gap of otherwise scarce iceberg observations in the Barents Sea. We create statistics of iceberg simulations with input from different combinations of ocean, sea ice and atmosphere models to study their impact on the simulation results. We find that especially using different sea ice models Topaz and Barents-2.5 influences the iceberg drift, deterioration and occurrence in the domain.

Estimation of the state and parameters in ice sheet model using an ensemble Kalman filter and Observing System Simulation Experiments

Estimation of the state and parameters in ice sheet model using an ensemble Kalman filter and Observing System Simulation Experiments Youngmin Choi, Alek Petty, Denis Felikson, and Jonathan Poterjoy The Cryosphere, 19, 5423–5444, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5423-2025, 2025 We combined numerical models with satellite observations using the ensemble Kalman filter to improve predictions of glacier states and their basal conditions. Our simulations show that incorporating more data generally improves prediction accuracy. We also tested different types of data and found that the high-resolution observations provide the greatest improvements. This method can help guide the design of future observing systems and improve long-term projections of ice sheet change.

Modelling the impacts of historical and future extreme precipitation days on seasonal surface mass balance in the Eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland

Modelling the impacts of historical and future extreme precipitation days on seasonal surface mass balance in the Eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland Nicole A. Loeb, Alex Crawford, Brice Noël, and Julienne Stroeve The Cryosphere, 19, 5403–5422, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5403-2025, 2025 We examine how extreme precipitation days affect the seasonal mass balance (SMB) of land ice in Greenland and the Eastern Canadian Arctic in historical and future simulations. Past extreme precipitation led to higher SMB with snowfall. Future extreme precipitation may lead to the loss of ice mass as more falls as rain rather than snow in some regions, such as southwestern Greenland. Across the region, extreme precipitation becomes more important to seasonal SMB in the future, warmer climate.

Solar Orbiter provides first glimpse of the sun's polar magnetic field in motion

The sun is governed by a strict rhythm. The magnetic activity of the sun displays a cyclic variation, reaching a maximum approximately every eleven years. Two enormous plasma circulations, each in one solar hemisphere, set the pace for this rhythm, thus defining the sun's eleven-year cycle. Near the surface, the plasma flows carry the magnetic field lines from the equator to the poles; in the solar interior, the plasma flows back to the equator in a huge cycle spanning the entire hemisphere.

Frozen for 6 million years, Antarctic ice rewrites Earth’s climate story

Scientists discovered 6-million-year-old ice in Antarctica, offering the oldest direct record of Earth’s ancient atmosphere and climate. The finding reveals a dramatic cooling trend and promises insights into greenhouse gas changes over millions of years.

Future mesoscale horizontal stirring in polar oceans intensified by sea ice decline

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02471-2

Most Antarctic ice shelves are set to disappear if greenhouse-gas emissions remain high

Nature, Published online: 05 November 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03581-9

Snow particle motion in process of cornice formation

Snow particle motion in process of cornice formation Hongxiang Yu, Li Guang, Benjamin Walter, Jianping Huang, Ning Huang, and Michael Lehning The Cryosphere, 19, 5389–5402, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5389-2025, 2025 Cornices are overhanging snow accumulations that form on mountain crests. Using wind-tunnel experiments and high-speed photography, the study tracks particle trajectories around cornices and finds distinct differences between edge and surface deposition. A static adhesion model for edge deposition was developed and validated to predict how particle size and shape affect adhesion. The work clarifies the microdynamics of early cornice growth and provides a foundation for avalanche modeling.

Snow water equivalent retrieval and analysis over Altay using 12 d repeat-pass Sentinel-1 interferometry

Snow water equivalent retrieval and analysis over Altay using 12 d repeat-pass Sentinel-1 interferometry Jingtian Zhou, Yang Lei, Jinmei Pan, Cunren Liang, Zhang Yunjun, Weiliang Li, Chuan Xiong, Jiancheng Shi, and Wei Ma The Cryosphere, 19, 5361–5388, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5361-2025, 2025 Understanding how much water is stored in snow is important for tracking climate change and managing water supply. This study used satellite radar data from 2019 to 2021 to measure snow water changes in a mountain region of China. The results matched ground data well, especially in cold, dry conditions without heavy snowfall. A new phase calibration method helped improve accuracy, offering a useful reference for global snow monitoring using widely available satellite data.

Annual carbon dioxide flux over seasonal sea ice in the Canadian Arctic

Annual carbon dioxide flux over seasonal sea ice in the Canadian Arctic Brian J. Butterworth, Brent G. T. Else, Kristina A. Brown, Christopher J. Mundy, William J. Williams, Lina M. Rotermund, and Gijs de Boer The Cryosphere, 19, 5317–5335, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5317-2025, 2025 Observations of carbon dioxide transfer between water and air were measured at a seasonally ice-covered marine location using the eddy covariance method. The goal was to determine how sea ice influences water-air transfer of carbon dioxide by season. During full ice cover in winter, ice acted as a barrier to transfer. In spring, melt water absorbed carbon dioxide from the air. In fall, freezing released carbon dioxide from water to the air.

IceAnatomy: a benchmark dataset and methodology for automatic ice boundary extraction from radio-echo sounding data

IceAnatomy: a benchmark dataset and methodology for automatic ice boundary extraction from radio-echo sounding data Marcel Dreier, Moritz Koch, Nora Gourmelon, Norbert Blindow, Daniel Steinhage, Fei Wu, Thorsten Seehaus, Matthias Braun, Andreas Maier, and Vincent Christlein The Cryosphere, 19, 5337–5359, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5337-2025, 2025 In this paper, we present a ready-to-use benchmark dataset to train machine learning approaches for detecting ice thickness from radar data. It includes radargrams of glaciers and ice sheets alongside annotations for their air–ice and ice–bedrock boundary. Furthermore, we introduce a baseline model and evaluate the influence of several geographical and glaciological factors on the performance of our model.

Seven climbers dead after Nepal avalanche

Rescuers located two bodies and are searching for the remaining five, believed to have been buried by snow.

Pathways to a safer planet

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 04 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02468-x

Caves record permafrost-free North Greenland under moderate Late Miocene CO₂ levels

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 04 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01851-9

Antarctic glacier's rapid retreat sparks scientific 'whodunnit'

A new study suggests that changes to Hektoria Glacier are unprecedented - but not all scientists agree.

Antarctic glacier shows fastest retreat in modern history

Tides and glacial earthquakes caused record ice loss at Hektoria Glacier

Record grounded glacier retreat caused by an ice plain calving process

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 03 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01802-4

Antarctic glacier retreats at record rate due to rapid flotation and calving process

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 03 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01835-9

Scientists shocked by reversed electric field around Earth

Earth’s magnetosphere, once thought to have a simple electric polarity pattern, has revealed a surprising twist. New satellite data and advanced simulations show that the morning side of the magnetosphere carries a negative charge, not positive as long believed. Researchers from Kyoto, Nagoya, and Kyushu Universities found that while the polar regions retain the expected polarity, the equatorial areas flip it entirely.

Fracturing of Antarctic ice shelves depends on future climate warming rate

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 31 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02479-8

Formation of mega-scale glacial lineations far inland beneath the onset of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream

Formation of mega-scale glacial lineations far inland beneath the onset of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream Charlotte M. Carter, Steven Franke, Daniela Jansen, Chris R. Stokes, Veit Helm, John Paden, and Olaf Eisen The Cryosphere, 19, 5299–5315, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5299-2025, 2025 The subglacial landforms beneath actively fast-flowing ice in Greenland have not been explored in detail, as digital elevation models have not had a high enough resolution to see these features. We use swath radar imaging to visualise landforms at the onset of an ice stream, revealing mega-scale glacial lineations, that would usually be assumed to be indicative of faster ice flow than the current velocities. Interpretation of the landscape also gives an indication of the properties of the bed.

Contrasting patterns of change in snowline altitude across five Himalayan catchments

Contrasting patterns of change in snowline altitude across five Himalayan catchments Orie Sasaki, Evan S. Miles, Francesca Pellicciotti, Akiko Sakai, and Koji Fujita The Cryosphere, 19, 5283–5298, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5283-2025, 2025 This study adapts a method to detect snowline altitude (SLA) using Google Earth Engine with high-resolution satellite imagery. Applying this method to five glaciated watersheds in the Himalayas reveals regional consistencies and differences in snow dynamics, as well as 20-year trends of snowline increases (3 catchments) and decreases (1) and no trend (1). We investigate the controls of these dynamics by analyzing climatic factors and topographic characteristics.

A prototype passive microwave retrieval algorithm for tundra snow density

A prototype passive microwave retrieval algorithm for tundra snow density Jeffrey J. Welch and Richard E. J. Kelly The Cryosphere, 19, 5259–5282, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5259-2025, 2025 Snow density plays an important role in natural and human systems but current methods for estimating snow density are limited, especially in the Arctic. This work presents a new method using satellite data to estimate snow density in remote areas. An experiment was conducted in the Canadian Arctic to evaluate the algorithm and it appears to replicate density estimates from manual sampling well. With more work this algorithm could be applied to estimate snow density across the pan-Arctic.

Seasonal variability of ocean heat transport and ice-shelf basal melt around Antarctica

Seasonal variability of ocean heat transport and ice-shelf basal melt around Antarctica Fabio Boeira Dias, Matthew H. England, Adele K. Morrison, and Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi The Cryosphere, 19, 5231–5258, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5231-2025, 2025 The Antarctic Ice Sheet melting dominates the sea-level projection uncertainties. Much uncertainty arises from our limited understanding of how ice shelves melt from below. Using a detailed ocean–ice-shelf model, we found that East Antarctic ice shelves experience seasonal melting driven by ocean heat transport variability. In contrast, West Antarctic ice shelves show consistent melting due to a steady supply of warm, deep water, indicating a potentially distinct response due to a warming climate.

Life Lessons from (Very Old) Bowhead Whales

A gene that helped bowheads adapt to frigid Arctic waters also granted them extraordinary longevity. Could it help aging humans become more resilient?

Snowflake says exec shared unauthorized guidance in Instagram street interview

The video was posted by Instagram account "theschoolofhardknockz" and features Snowflake Chief Revenue Officer Mike Gannon.

Saharan dust impacts on the surface mass balance of Argentière Glacier (French Alps)

Saharan dust impacts on the surface mass balance of Argentière Glacier (French Alps) Léon Roussel, Marie Dumont, Marion Réveillet, Delphine Six, Marin Kneib, Pierre Nabat, Kévin Fourteau, Diego Monteiro, Simon Gascoin, Emmanuel Thibert, Antoine Rabatel, Jean-Emmanuel Sicart, Mylène Bonnefoy, Luc Piard, Olivier Laarman, Bruno Jourdain, Mathieu Fructus, Matthieu Vernay, and Matthieu Lafaysse The Cryosphere, 19, 5201–5230, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5201-2025, 2025 Saharan dust deposits frequently turn alpine glaciers orange. Mineral dust reduces snow albedo and increases snow and glaciers melt rate. Using physical modeling, we quantified the impact of dust on the Argentière Glacier over the period 2019–2022. We found that the contribution of mineral dust to the melt represents between 8 % and 16 % of Argentière Glacier summer melt. At specific locations, the impact of dust over one year can rise to an equivalent of 1.2 m of melted ice.

Earth has hit its first climate tipping point, scientists warn

Global scientists warn that humanity is on the verge of crossing irreversible climate thresholds, with coral reefs already at their tipping point and polar ice sheets possibly beyond recovery. The Global Tipping Points Report 2025 reveals how rising temperatures could trigger a cascade of system collapses, from the Amazon rainforest turning to savanna to the potential shutdown of the Atlantic Ocean circulation.

Antarctic robot ‘Lassie’ uncovers thousands of icefish nests beneath Antarctic ice

Beneath the ice of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea, scientists discovered a vast, organized city of fish nests revealed after the colossal A68 iceberg broke away. Using robotic explorers, they found over a thousand circular nests forming geometric patterns, each guarded by yellowfin noties. The expedition, initially aimed at studying the ice shelf and locating Shackleton’s Endurance, instead unveiled a thriving, structured ecosystem in one of the harshest places on Earth.

On the statistical relationship between sea ice freeboard and C-band microwave backscatter – a case study with Sentinel-1 and Operation IceBridge

On the statistical relationship between sea ice freeboard and C-band microwave backscatter – a case study with Sentinel-1 and Operation IceBridge Siqi Liu, Shiming Xu, Wenkai Guo, Yanfei Fan, Lu Zhou, Jack Landy, Malin Johansson, Weixin Zhu, and Alek Petty The Cryosphere, 19, 5175–5199, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5175-2025, 2025 In this study, we explore the potential of using synthetic aperture radars (SAR) to predict the sea ice height measurements by the airborne campaign of Operation IceBridge. In particular, we predict the meter-scale sea ice height with the statistical relationship between the two, overcoming the resolution limitation of SAR images from Sentinel-1 satellites. The prediction and ice drift correction algorithms can be applied to the extrapolation of ICESat-2 measurements in the Arctic region.

Emulating the expansion of Antarctic perennial firn aquifers in the 21st century

Emulating the expansion of Antarctic perennial firn aquifers in the 21st century Sanne B. M. Veldhuijsen, Willem Jan van de Berg, Peter Kuipers Munneke, Nicolaj Hansen, Fredrik Boberg, Christoph Kittel, Charles Amory, and Michiel R. van den Broeke The Cryosphere, 19, 5157–5173, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5157-2025, 2025 Perennial firn aquifers (PFAs), year-round bodies of liquid water within firns, can potentially impact ice-shelf and ice-sheet stability. We developed a fast XGBoost firn emulator to predict the 21st-century distribution of PFAs in Antarctica for 12 climatic forcing datasets. Our findings suggest that, in low-emission scenarios, PFAs remain confined to the Antarctic Peninsula. However, in a high-emission scenario, PFAs are projected to expand to a region in West Antarctica and East Antarctica.

Ocean warming threatens the viability of 60% of Antarctic ice shelves

Nature, Published online: 29 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09657-w

This Ancient Species of Arctic Rhino May Have Crossed a Land Bridge 23 Million Years Ago

Learn more about Epiatheracerium itjilik, the Arctic rhino species that is the northernmost rhino ever found.

Sub-grid parameterization of iceberg drag in a coupled iceberg–ocean model

Sub-grid parameterization of iceberg drag in a coupled iceberg–ocean model Paul T. Summers, Rebecca H. Jackson, and Alexander A. Robel The Cryosphere, 19, 5135–5156, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5135-2025, 2025 We develop a method that allows numerical ocean models to include drag from icebergs, even for icebergs smaller than the model grid scale. This builds upon previous models that have either neglected iceberg drag or required higher resolution to model individual icebergs. We test our model against higher-resolution models, as well as models without iceberg drag, and show that including drag from icebergs is important for capturing realistic ocean circulation, temperature, and ice melt rates.

Combining observational data and numerical models to obtain a seamless high-temporal-resolution seasonal cycle of snow and ice mass balance at the MOSAiC Central Observatory

Combining observational data and numerical models to obtain a seamless high-temporal-resolution seasonal cycle of snow and ice mass balance at the MOSAiC Central Observatory Polona Itkin and Glen E. Liston The Cryosphere, 19, 5111–5133, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5111-2025, 2025 A sea ice drifting observatory in 2019 and 2020 provided a year of observations of Arctic snow and sea ice, though some data were interrupted, especially during summer melt onset. We developed a data–model fusion system to produce continuous, high-resolution time series of snow and sea ice parameters. On all three analyzed ice types, snow redistribution correlated with sea ice deformation, and level ice thickness was governed by the thinnest fraction of snow cover.

Folding due to anisotropy in ice, from drill-core-scale cloudy bands to km-scale internal reflection horizons

Folding due to anisotropy in ice, from drill-core-scale cloudy bands to km-scale internal reflection horizons Paul D. Bons, Yuanbang Hu, M.-Gema Llorens, Steven Franke, Nicolas Stoll, Ilka Weikusat, Julien Westhoff, and Yu Zhang The Cryosphere, 19, 5095–5109, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5095-2025, 2025 What causes folds in ice layers from the km scale down to the scale visible in the drill core: buckle folding due to variations in viscosity between layers, or the effect of mechanical anisotropy of ice due to an alignment of the crystal-lattice planes? Power spectra of folds in ice, a biotite schist, and numerical simulations show that folding in ice is due to the anisotropy, as the folds are self-similar, meaning that there is no characteristic fold scale that would result from buckle folding.

Glacier surge monitoring from temporally dense elevation time series: application to an ASTER dataset over the Karakoram region

Glacier surge monitoring from temporally dense elevation time series: application to an ASTER dataset over the Karakoram region Luc Beraud, Fanny Brun, Amaury Dehecq, Romain Hugonnet, and Prashant Shekhar The Cryosphere, 19, 5075–5094, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5075-2025, 2025 This study introduces a new workflow to process the elevation time series of glacier surges, an ice flow instability. Applied to a dense, 20-year satellite dataset of glacier surface elevation, the method filters and interpolates these changes on a monthly scale, revealing detailed patterns and estimates of mass transport. The dataset produced by this method allows for a more accurate and a remarkably detailed description of glacier surges at the scale of a large region.

Melting ice is hiding a massive climate secret beneath Antarctica

The Southern Ocean absorbs nearly half of all ocean-stored human CO2, but its future role is uncertain. Despite models predicting a decline, researchers found that freshening surface waters are currently keeping deep CO2 trapped below. This stratification effect may be only temporary, as intensifying winds bring deep, carbon-rich water closer to the surface. If mixing increases, the Southern Ocean could begin releasing more CO2 than it absorbs.

All-perovskite tandem solar cells with dipolar passivation

Nature, Published online: 27 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09773-7

Western Indian subantarctic phytoplankton blooms fertilized by iron-enriched Agulhas water

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 27 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01823-z

Glaciers’ secret cooling power won’t last much longer

Scientists have uncovered that glaciers can temporarily cool the air around them, delaying some effects of global warming. This self-cooling, driven by katabatic winds, is nearing its peak and will likely reverse in the next two decades. Once glaciers lose enough mass, they will heat up faster, speeding their decline. The team urges immediate global action to curb emissions and manage dwindling water resources wisely.

How NSF hopes to keep Antarctic scientists afloat without an icebreaker

Ending Palmer lease is one of many belt-tightening moves amid budget uncertainty

Comprehensive assessment of stress calculations for crevasse depths and testing with crevasse penetration as damage

Comprehensive assessment of stress calculations for crevasse depths and testing with crevasse penetration as damage Benjamin Reynolds, Sophie Nowicki, and Kristin Poinar The Cryosphere, 19, 5045–5073, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5045-2025, 2025 Stress in glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves causes crevasses, which are important drivers of retreat and sea level rise. We find that different assumptions found in the literature lead to significantly (up to a factor of 2) different crevasse depths and recommend a calculation based on observed ice flow patterns. We find that other stress calculations likely overpredict ice shelf vulnerability to hydrofracture.

Air clathrate hydrates in the EDML ice core, Antarctica

Air clathrate hydrates in the EDML ice core, Antarctica Florian Painer, Sepp Kipfstuhl, Martyn Drury, Tsutomu Uchida, Johannes Freitag, and Ilka Weikusat The Cryosphere, 19, 5023–5044, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5023-2025, 2025 Air clathrate hydrates trap ancient air in the deeper part of ice sheets. We use digital microscopy and automated image analysis to investigate the evolution of number, size, and shape of air clathrate hydrates from 1250 m depth to the bottom of the ice sheet. We confirm the previously found relation of changes in number and size with past climate and find a connection of their shape to changes in ice deformation. The results will help us to better understand air clathrate hydrates in deep ice.

Trump administration pushes ahead with Alaska wildlife refuge oil and gas drilling

The Trump administration plans to offer parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil and gas drilling. It's part of a larger effort to advance controversial projects in the state that were blocked by the Biden administration.

Rapid regional assessment of rock glacier activity based on DInSAR wrapped-phase signal

Rapid regional assessment of rock glacier activity based on DInSAR wrapped-phase signal Federico Agliardi, Chiara Crippa, Daniele Codara, and Federico Franzosi The Cryosphere, 19, 5003–5021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5003-2025, 2025 We present a semi-automatic method integrating geomorphological data, permafrost extent, and Sentinel-1 differential interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (DInSAR) wrapped-phase signals to assess the activity of 514 periglacial landforms across 1000 km² in Upper Valtellina (Italian Alps). Four activity classes are identified and validated with geomorphological evidence and multivariate statistics. Results highlight the potential of wrapped DInSAR products, free from unwrapping errors, for regional-scale screening and site-specific study selection.

Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling

The Trump administration has finalized a plan to open the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, renewing long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation's most sensitive wilderness areas.

Can the Deadliest Catch crab fishery survive warming seas?

After a brutal heat wave, scientists race to predict how Bering Sea snow crabs will cope with climate change

Thermokarst lakes disturb the permafrost structure and stimulate through-talik formation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China: a hydrogeophysical investigation

Thermokarst lakes disturb the permafrost structure and stimulate through-talik formation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China: a hydrogeophysical investigation Xianmin Ke, Wei Wang, Fujun Niu, Zeyong Gao, Wenkang Huang, and Huake Cao The Cryosphere, 19, 4989–5002, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4989-2025, 2025 Permafrost measurements on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are typically limited to seasonally frozen soils or permafrost at a few borehole locations, with little effort made to detect deep permafrost and sublake taliks. We employed electrical resistivity tomography and ground temperature measurement methods to determine the current permafrost structure, revealing that permafrost below three thermokarst lakes has completely thawed.

An assessment of the disequilibrium of Alaska glaciers

An assessment of the disequilibrium of Alaska glaciers Daniel R. Otto, Gerard H. Roe, and John Erich Christian The Cryosphere, 19, 4969–4987, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4969-2025, 2025 Glaciers respond slowly to changes in climate, meaning that they are not yet adjusted to the present-day level of warming. Using a simple model, we find that the median Alaska glacier has undergone only 27 % of the retreat necessary to equilibrate to the current climate. Our findings hold even when accounting for large uncertainties, suggesting that substantial retreat is inevitable even if future warming slows or stabilizes.

Similarities between sea ice area variations and satellite-derived terrestrial biosphere and cryosphere parameters across the Arctic

Similarities between sea ice area variations and satellite-derived terrestrial biosphere and cryosphere parameters across the Arctic Annett Bartsch, Rodrigue Tanguy, Helena Bergstedt, Clemens von Baeckmann, Hans Tømmervik, Marc Macias-Fauria, Juha Lemmetyinen, Kimmo Rautiainen, Chiara Gruber, and Bruce C. Forbes The Cryosphere, 19, 4929–4967, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4929-2025, 2025 We identified similarities between sea ice dynamics and conditions on land across the Arctic, above 60° N, for 2000–2019. Significant correlations  were more common for snow water equivalent and permafrost ground temperature than for the vegetation parameters. Changes across all the different parameters could specifically be determined for eastern Siberia. The results provide a baseline for future studies on common drivers of essential climate variables and causative effects across the Arctic.

The impact of measurement precision on the resolvable resolution of ice core water isotope reconstructions

The impact of measurement precision on the resolvable resolution of ice core water isotope reconstructions Fyntan Shaw, Thomas Münch, Vasileios Gkinis, and Thomas Laepple The Cryosphere, 19, 4913–4928, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4913-2025, 2025 Diffusion in combination with measurement noise erase high-frequency water isotope variability in ice cores, linking measurement precision to recoverable resolution. We derive expressions for this relationship, finding a resolution improvement of 1.5 times for a 10-fold measurement noise reduction. Based on the current age-depth model, our method predicts 10 000-year cycles will be recoverable in the 1.5 Myr old ice from the Oldest Ice Core δ18O record if a noise level of 0.01 ‰ is achieved.

Letter: Jenny Cox obituary

In writing about my mother, Jenny Cox, I mentioned that she was refused permission to do her botany PhD research on the island of South Georgia purely because she was a woman. Though she saw this as an injustice for the rest of her life, she never revealed any details of what happened.

The efficient archive service at the British Antarctic Survey have now made available a letter from Sir Vivian Fuchs dated 7 October 1959. He still wanted my mother to do UK-based lab work on existing specimens. However, he refused her or any other women access to the island, citing accommodation and severe conditions in the field.

Spatio-temporal melt and basal channel evolution on Pine Island Glacier ice shelf from CryoSat-2

Spatio-temporal melt and basal channel evolution on Pine Island Glacier ice shelf from CryoSat-2 Katie Lowery, Pierre Dutrieux, Paul R. Holland, Anna E. Hogg, Noel Gourmelen, and Benjamin J. Wallis The Cryosphere, 19, 4893–4911, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4893-2025, 2025 Using CryoSat-2, we observe monthly changes in the Pine Island Glacier (PIG) ice shelf surface and derive oceanic melt at its base. Basal channels, kilometres wide, are reflected in the ice surface and captured in our observations. We demonstrate that melt is concentrated on the western walls of channels, that channels play a role in grounding pinning points, and that PIG's main channel geometry is inherited upstream of the grounding line. These results highlight the importance of channels to ice shelf stability.

How to reduce sampling errors in spaceborne cloud radar-based snowfall estimates

How to reduce sampling errors in spaceborne cloud radar-based snowfall estimates Filippo Emilio Scarsi, Alessandro Battaglia, Maximilian Maahn, and Stef Lhermitte The Cryosphere, 19, 4875–4892, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4875-2025, 2025 Snowfall measurements at high latitudes are crucial for estimating ice sheet mass balance. Spaceborne radar and radiometer missions help estimate snowfall but face uncertainties. This work evaluates uncertainties in snowfall estimates from a fixed near-nadir radar (CloudSat-like) and a conically scanning radar (WIVERN-like), showing that a WIVERN-like radar will provide better estimates than a CloudSat-like radar at smaller spatial and temporal scales.

Quantifying retrogressive thaw slump mass wasting and carbon mobilisation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using multi-modal remote sensing

Quantifying retrogressive thaw slump mass wasting and carbon mobilisation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using multi-modal remote sensing Kathrin Maier, Zhuoxuan Xia, Lin Liu, Mark J. Lara, Jurjen van der Sluijs, Philipp Bernhard, and Irena Hajnsek The Cryosphere, 19, 4855–4873, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4855-2025, 2025 Our study explores how thawing permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau triggers landslides, mobilising stored carbon. Using satellite data from 2011 to 2020, we measured soil erosion, ice loss, and carbon mobilisation. While current impacts are modest, increasing landslide activity suggests future significance. This research underscores the need to understand permafrost thaw's role in carbon dynamics and climate change.

Modeling the impacts of climate trends and lake formation on the retreat of a tropical Andean glacier (1962–2020)

Modeling the impacts of climate trends and lake formation on the retreat of a tropical Andean glacier (1962–2020) Tal Y. Shutkin, Bryan G. Mark, Nathan D. Stansell, Rolando Cruz Encarnación, Henry H. Brecher, Zhengyu Liu, Bidhyananda Yadav, and Forrest S. Schoessow The Cryosphere, 19, 4835–4853, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4835-2025, 2025 Queshque Glacier of Peru's tropical Andes has retreated rapidly since the mid-20th century. Using a glacier model, we show that this has primarily been driven by steady warming despite the counteracting effect of recent snowfall amounts. Independently from climatic trends, we find that the formation of a new lake at the glacier's base has further accelerated ice loss. This research demonstrates the utility of empirical glacier models for interpreting past and future changes in the tropics.

Sea ice concentration estimates from ICESat-2 linear ice fraction – Part 1: Multi-sensor comparison of sea ice concentration products

Sea ice concentration estimates from ICESat-2 linear ice fraction – Part 1: Multi-sensor comparison of sea ice concentration products Ellen M. Buckley, Christopher Horvat, and Pittayuth Yoosiri The Cryosphere, 19, 4805–4818, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4805-2025, 2025 Sea ice coverage is a key indicator of changes in polar and global climate. There is a long (over 40 years) record of sea ice concentration and area from passive microwave measurements. In this work we show the biases in these data based on high-resolution imagery. We also suggest the use of ICESat-2, a high- resolution satellite laser, that can supplement the passive microwave estimates.

Sea ice concentration estimates from ICESat-2 linear ice fraction – Part 2: Gridded data comparison and bias estimation

Sea ice concentration estimates from ICESat-2 linear ice fraction – Part 2: Gridded data comparison and bias estimation Christopher Horvat, Ellen Buckley, and Madelyn Stewart The Cryosphere, 19, 4819–4833, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4819-2025, 2025 Since the late 1970s, standard methods for observing sea ice area from satellites have contrasted its passive microwave emissions to those of the ocean. Since 2018, a new satellite, ICESat-2, may have offered a unique and independent way to sample sea ice area at high skill and resolution, using laser altimetry. We develop a new product of sea ice area for the Arctic using ICESat-2 and constrain the biases associated with the use of altimetry instead of passive microwave emissions.

Inferring inherent optical properties of sea ice using 360° camera radiance measurements

Inferring inherent optical properties of sea ice using 360° camera radiance measurements Raphaël Larouche, Bastian Raulier, Christian Katlein, Simon Lambert-Girard, Simon Thibault, and Marcel Babin The Cryosphere, 19, 4785–4804, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4785-2025, 2025 We developed a new method to study how light interacts with sea ice using a compact 360° camera. By lowering this camera into drilled holes in ice, we captured detailed light patterns inside different ice layers. Our research revealed how light is absorbed and scattered in both Arctic multi-year ice and thinner, seasonal ice in Quebec. These findings improve our understanding of sea ice structure and its role in the climate system, helping in the representation of sea ice in models.

Learning to filter: snow data assimilation using a Long Short-Term Memory network

Learning to filter: snow data assimilation using a Long Short-Term Memory network Giulia Blandini, Francesco Avanzi, Lorenzo Campo, Simone Gabellani, Kristoffer Aalstad, Manuela Girotto, Satoru Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Hirashima, and Luca Ferraris The Cryosphere, 19, 4759–4783, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4759-2025, 2025 Reliable snow water equivalent and snow depth estimates are key for water management in snow regions. To tackle computational challenges in data assimilation, we propose a Long Short-Term Memory neural network for operational use in snow hydrology. Once trained, it reduces computational cost by 70 percent compared to the Ensemble Kalman Filter, with a slight decrease in performances. This deep learning approach provides a scalable, efficient, and cost-effective modeling solution for hydrology.

Sea ice in the Baltic Sea during 1993/94–2020/21 ice seasons from satellite observations and model reanalysis

Sea ice in the Baltic Sea during 1993/94–2020/21 ice seasons from satellite observations and model reanalysis Shakti Singh, Ilja Maljutenko, and Rivo Uiboupin The Cryosphere, 19, 4741–4758, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4741-2025, 2025 The sea ice statistics study highlights the bias in model estimations compared to satellite data and provides a simple approach to minimise that. During the study period, the model estimates sea ice forming slightly earlier but aligns well with the satellite data for ice season's end. Rapid decrease in the sea ice parameters is observed across the Baltic Sea, especially the ice thickness in the Bothnian Bay sub-basin. These statistics could be crucial for regional adaptation strategies.

Scientists just found hidden life thriving beneath the Arctic ice

Melting Arctic ice is revealing a hidden world of nitrogen-fixing bacteria beneath the surface. These microbes, not the usual cyanobacteria, enrich the ocean with nitrogen, fueling algae growth that supports the entire marine food chain. As ice cover declines, both algae production and CO2 absorption may increase, altering the region’s ecological balance. The discovery could force scientists to revise predictions about Arctic climate feedbacks.

Sea ice freeboard extrapolation from ICESat-2 to Sentinel-1

Sea ice freeboard extrapolation from ICESat-2 to Sentinel-1 Karl Kortum, Suman Singha, and Gunnar Spreen The Cryosphere, 19, 4701–4714, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4701-2025, 2025 Improved sea ice observations are essential to understanding the processes that lead to the strong warming effect currently being observed in the Arctic. In this work, we combine complementary satellite measurement techniques and find remarkable correlations between the two observations. This allows us to expand the coverage of ice topography measurements to a scope and resolution that could not previously be observed.

High-frequency broadband active acoustic systems as a tool for high-latitude glacial fjord research

High-frequency broadband active acoustic systems as a tool for high-latitude glacial fjord research Elizabeth Weidner, Grant Deane, Arnaud Le Boyer, Matthew H. Alford, Hari Vishnu, Mandar Chitre, M. Dale Stokes, Oskar Glowacki, Hayden Johnson, and Fiammetta Straneo The Cryosphere, 19, 4715–4740, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4715-2025, 2025 Tidewater glaciers play a central role in polar dynamics, but their study is limited by harsh and isolated conditions. Here, we introduce broadband echosounders as an tool for the study of high-latitude fjords through the rapid collection of calibrated high-resolution, near-synoptic observations. Using a dataset collected in Hornsund Fjord, we illustrate the potential of broadband echosounders as a relatively accessible, low-effort tool, well suited for field deployment in high-latitude fjords.

Late Miocene Arctic warmth and terrestrial climate recorded by North Greenland speleothems

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 21 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01822-0

Quantifying the impacts of atmospheric rivers on the surface energy budget of the Arctic based on reanalysis

Quantifying the impacts of atmospheric rivers on the surface energy budget of the Arctic based on reanalysis Chen Zhang, John J. Cassano, Mark W. Seefeldt, Hailong Wang, Weiming Ma, and Wen-wen Tung The Cryosphere, 19, 4671–4699, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4671-2025, 2025 An atmospheric river (AR) is a long, narrow corridor of moisture transport in the atmosphere. ARs are crucial for moisture and heat transport into the polar regions. Our study examines the role of ARs in the surface energy budget (SEB) in the Arctic. The results reveal distinct seasonality and land–sea–sea ice contrasts due to the impacts of ARs on the SEB. The conclusions provide greater insights into the current and future role of ARs in the Arctic climate system.

An alternative representation of Synthetic Aperture Radar images as an aid to the interpretation of englacial observations

An alternative representation of Synthetic Aperture Radar images as an aid to the interpretation of englacial observations Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan The Cryosphere, 19, 4657–4670, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4657-2025, 2025 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging is essential for deep englacial observations. Each pixel is formed by averaging the radar echoes within an antenna beamwidth, but the echo diversity is lost after the average. We improve the SAR interpretation if three sub-images are formed with different sub-beamwidths: each is coloured in red, green, or blue, and they are overlapped, creating a coloured image. Interpreters will better identify the slopes of internal layers, crevasses, and layer roughness.

SPASS – new gridded climatological snow datasets for Switzerland: potential and limitations

SPASS – new gridded climatological snow datasets for Switzerland: potential and limitations Christoph Marty, Adrien Michel, Tobias Jonas, Cynthia Steijn, Regula Muelchi, and Sven Kotlarski The Cryosphere, 19, 4391–4407, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4391-2025, 2025 This work presents the first long-term (since 1962), daily, 1 km gridded dataset of snow depth and water storage for Switzerland. Its quality was assessed by comparing yearly, monthly, and weekly values to a higher-quality model and in situ measurements. Results show good overall performance, though some limitations exist at low elevations and short timescales. Despite this, the dataset effectively captures trends, offering valuable insights for climate monitoring and elevation-based changes.

Review article: AntArchitecture – building an age–depth model from Antarctica's radiostratigraphy to explore ice-sheet evolution

Review article: AntArchitecture – building an age–depth model from Antarctica's radiostratigraphy to explore ice-sheet evolution Robert G. Bingham, Julien A. Bodart, Marie G. P. Cavitte, Ailsa Chung, Rebecca J. Sanderson, Johannes C. R. Sutter, Olaf Eisen, Nanna B. Karlsson, Joseph A. MacGregor, Neil Ross, Duncan A. Young, David W. Ashmore, Andreas Born, Winnie Chu, Xiangbin Cui, Reinhard Drews, Steven Franke, Vikram Goel, John W. Goodge, A. Clara J. Henry, Antoine Hermant, Benjamin H. Hills, Nicholas Holschuh, Michelle R. Koutnik, Gwendolyn J.-M. C. Leysinger Vieli, Emma J. MacKie, Elisa Mantelli, Carlos Martín, Felix S. L. Ng, Falk M. Oraschewski, Felipe Napoleoni, Frédéric Parrenin, Sergey V. Popov, Therese Rieckh, Rebecca Schlegel, Dustin M. Schroeder, Martin J. Siegert, Xueyuan Tang, Thomas O. Teisberg, Kate Winter, Shuai Yan, Harry Davis, Christine F. Dow, Tyler J. Fudge, Tom A. Jordan, Bernd Kulessa, Kenichi Matsuoka, Clara J. Nyqvist, Maryam Rahnemoonfar, Matthew R. Siegfried, Shivangini Singh, Vjeran Višnjević, Rodrigo Zamora, and Alexandra Zuhr The Cryosphere, 19, 4611–4655, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4611-2025, 2025 The ice sheets covering Antarctica have built up over millenia through successive snowfall events which become buried and preserved as internal surfaces of equal age detectable with ice-penetrating radar. This paper describes an international initiative working together on these archival data to build a comprehensive 3-D picture of how old the ice is everywhere across Antarctica and how this is being used to reconstruct past and to predict future ice and climate behaviour.

A clue to ancient life? What scientists found inside Mars’ frozen vortex

Mars’ north polar vortex locks its atmosphere in extreme cold and darkness, freezing out water vapor and triggering a dramatic rise in ozone. Scientists found that the lack of sunlight and moisture lets ozone build up unchecked. This discovery, made with data from ESA’s and NASA’s orbiters, could reveal clues about Mars’ past atmospheric chemistry and potential for life.

Earth from Space: Chilean glaciers

Image: The changing face of the Chilean glaciers in the Laguna San Rafael National Park is featured in these satellite images from 1987 and 2024.

Abrupt thaw alters phosphorus cycling in alpine tundra

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02466-z

Accelerated soil phosphorus cycling upon abrupt permafrost thaw

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02445-4

Damage development on Antarctic ice shelves sensitive to climate warming

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02453-4

On an Arctic archipelago, frozen soil may preserve a hidden history of viruses

Scientists are hunting for ancient RNA in Svalbard’s permafrost, hoping to shed light on the evolution of viral diseases

UAV LiDAR surveys and machine learning improve snow depth and water equivalent estimates in boreal landscapes

UAV LiDAR surveys and machine learning improve snow depth and water equivalent estimates in boreal landscapes Maiju Ylönen, Hannu Marttila, Joschka Geissler, Anton Kuzmin, Pasi Korpelainen, Timo Kumpula, and Pertti Ala-Aho The Cryosphere, 19, 4585–4610, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4585-2025, 2025 We collected snow depth maps four times during the winter from two different sites and used them as input for a model to predict daily snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE). Our results show similar snow depth patterns at different sites, with snow depths being the highest in forests and forest gaps and the lowest in open areas. The results can extend operational snow course measurements and their temporal and spatial coverage, helping hydrological forecasting and water resource management.

Sea Ice Today services reduced

Are there living microbes on Mars? Check the ice, researchers say

Frozen in time, ancient microbes or their remains could be found in Martian ice deposits during future missions to the red planet. By recreating Mars-like conditions in the lab, a team of researchers from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Penn State demonstrated that fragments of the molecules that make up proteins in E. coli bacteria, if present in Mars' permafrost and ice caps, could remain intact for over 50 million years, despite harsh and continuous exposure to cosmic radiation.

Greetings from the Rhône Glacier, where a gash of pink highlights how it's melting

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

TICOI: an operational Python package to generate regular glacier velocity time series

TICOI: an operational Python package to generate regular glacier velocity time series Laurane Charrier, Amaury Dehecq, Lei Guo, Fanny Brun, Romain Millan, Nathan Lioret, Luke Copland, Nathan Maier, Christine Dow, and Paul Halas The Cryosphere, 19, 4555–4583, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4555-2025, 2025 While global annual glacier velocities are openly accessible, sub-annual velocity time series are still lacking. This hinders our ability to understand flow processes and the integration of these observations in numerical models. We introduce an open source Python package called TICOI (Temporal Inversion using linear Combinations of Observations, and Interpolation) to fuse multi-temporal and multi-sensor image-pair velocities produced by different processing chains to produce standardized sub-annual velocity products.

Mountain glaciers will lose their cooling capacity as they shrink

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 15 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02448-1

Brief communication: Reanalyses underperform in cold regions, raising concerns for climate services and research

Brief communication: Reanalyses underperform in cold regions, raising concerns for climate services and research Bin Cao and Stephan Gruber The Cryosphere, 19, 4525–4532, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4525-2025, 2025 The climate-driven changes in cold regions have an outsized importance for local resilient communities and for global climate through teleconnections. We show that reanalyses are less accurate in cold regions compared to other more populated regions, coincident with the low density of observations. Our findings likely point to similar gaps in our knowledge and capabilities of climate research and services in cold regions.

Monitoring shear-zone weakening in East Antarctic outlet glaciers through differential InSAR measurements

Monitoring shear-zone weakening in East Antarctic outlet glaciers through differential InSAR measurements Christian T. Wild, Reinhard Drews, Niklas Neckel, Joohan Lee, Sihyung Kim, Hyangsun Han, Won Sang Lee, Veit Helm, Sebastian Harry Reid Rosier, Oliver J. Marsh, and Wolfgang Rack The Cryosphere, 19, 4533–4554, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4533-2025, 2025 The stability of the Antarctic Ice Sheet depends on how resistance along the sides of large glaciers slows down the flow of ice into the ocean. We present a method to map ice strength using the effect of ocean tides on floating ice shelves. Incorporating weaker ice in shear zones improves the accuracy of model predictions, compared with satellite observations. This demonstrates the untapped potential of radar satellites to map ice stiffness in the most critical areas for ice sheet stability.

The race to uncover snow’s many mysteries before it disappears forever

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03310-2

Revived 40,000-Year-Old Microbes in the Arctic Could Release Greenhouse Gases

Learn more about these ancient microorganisms that have been buried in permafrost for 40,000 years, and how, as the climate warms, they may be releasing more greenhouse gases.

Earth’s climate just crossed a line we can’t ignore

Humanity has reached the first Earth system tipping point, the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs, marking the beginning of irreversible planetary shifts. As global temperatures move beyond 1.5°C, the world risks cascading crises such as ice sheet melt, Amazon rainforest dieback, and ocean current collapse. Scientists from the University of Exeter warn that these interconnected tipping points could transform the planet unless urgent, systemic action triggers “positive tipping points,” like rapid renewable energy adoption.

A novel transformation of the ice sheet Stokes equations and some of its properties and applications

A novel transformation of the ice sheet Stokes equations and some of its properties and applications John K. Dukowicz The Cryosphere, 19, 4499–4523, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4499-2025, 2025 A novel transformation of the Stokes ice sheet equations is presented that expands the scope of traditional methods. The new formulation is closely related to a widely used Stokes approximation, the Blatter–Pattyn model, such that an ice sheet model may be easily switched between the two formulations, allowing for adaptive applications. The new formulation also facilitates new approximations that improve on the Blatter–Pattyn model, heretofore the best approximate ice sheet model.

‘The universe has opened up for us’: meet the astro-ambassadors who welcome stargazers to the Himalayas

A tourism initiative in India’s first dark sky reserve has brought new hope to a community as employment means they can stay close to their roots and culture

The snow-flecked peaks surrounding the village of Hanle are bathed in golden light as the sun sets. In the valley, 28-year-old Tsering Dolkar secures a telescope to its tripod and focuses the lens beneath a clear sky.

Zipped into warm jackets the visitors gather around Dolkar, gazing upwards as the sky darkens into a breathtaking tapestry of stars. She points toward a bright star in the western sky and announces: “That is Venus.” Someone says excitedly: “There’s the Milky Way!”

Numerical modeling of ice detachment tipping processes: insights from the Sedongpu Glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Numerical modeling of ice detachment tipping processes: insights from the Sedongpu Glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau Tong Zhang, Wei Yang, Yuzhe Wang, Chuanxi Zhao, Qingyun Long, and Cunde Xiao The Cryosphere, 19, 4487–4498, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4487-2025, 2025 This study investigates the 2018 Sedongpu glacier detachment in Southeastern Tibet using a two-dimensional ice flow model that includes an ice stiffness and basal slip positive feedback mechanism. The model simulates rapid transitions in glacier flow, triggering detachment when ice stress exceeds yield strength. The results, including ice speed and duration, align with observations, demonstrating the potential for early warning of similar hazards in the region.

Top Wall Street analysts are bullish on these 3 stocks for the long term

TipRanks' ranking service discusses three stocks, including Snowflake and Advanced Micro Devices, favored by Wall Street.

41-year-old American makes $46,000 a year tending bar in the Arctic Circle: 'I feel so welcome'

Robert E. Yarber earns roughly $47,000 in Norway. He says its more than enough for a comfortable life.

Denmark to boost Greenland defence with new ships, jets and HQ

Denmark will buy US F-35 fighter jets and new ships to defend Greenland - a resource-rich Danish territory that President Trump wants to control.

Warm proglacial lake temperatures and thermal undercutting enhance rapid retreat of an Arctic glacier

Warm proglacial lake temperatures and thermal undercutting enhance rapid retreat of an Arctic glacier Adrian Dye, Robert Bryant, Francesca Falcini, Joseph Mallalieu, Miles Dimbleby, Michael Beckwith, David Rippin, and Nina Kirchner The Cryosphere, 19, 4471–4486, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4471-2025, 2025 Thermal undercutting of the terminus has enhanced recent rapid retreat of an Arctic glacier. Water temperatures (~4 °C) at the ice front were warmer than previously reported and thermal undercutting was over several metres deep. This triggered phases of high calving activity, playing a substantial role in the rapid retreat of Kaskasapakte Glacier since 2012, with important implications for processes occurring at glacier-water contact points and implications for hydrology and ecology downstream.

Exploring the Greenland Ice Sheet’s response to future atmospheric warming-threshold scenarios over 200 years

Exploring the Greenland Ice Sheet’s response to future atmospheric warming-threshold scenarios over 200 years Alison Delhasse, Christoph Kittel, and Johanna Beckmann The Cryosphere, 19, 4459–4469, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4459-2025, 2025 This study explores how the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) responds to different levels of stabilized global warming and if the climate cools back. Our findings show that global temperature increases beyond +2.3 °C mark a critical threshold. We also highlight the importance of limiting warming to avoid irreversible ice loss, as well as the potential for recovery after temporarily exceeding warming thresholds if action is taken quickly to lower global temperatures.

Quantification of capillary rise dynamics in snow using neutron radiography

Quantification of capillary rise dynamics in snow using neutron radiography Michael Lombardo, Amelie Fees, Anders Kaestner, Alec van Herwijnen, Jürg Schweizer, and Peter Lehmann The Cryosphere, 19, 4437–4458, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4437-2025, 2025 Water flow in snow is important for many applications including snow hydrology and avalanche forecasting. This work investigated the role of capillary forces at the soil-snow interface during capillary rise experiments using neutron radiography. The results showed that the properties of both the snow and the transitional layer below the snow affected the water flow. This work will allow for better representations of water flow across the soil–snow interface in snowpack models.

I.U.C.N. Updates Its Red List on the Global Status of Wildlife

Sea turtles are making a surprising comeback, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The news was not so good for Arctic seals.

Mountain glaciers recouple to atmospheric warming over the twenty-first century

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02449-0

How well do the regional atmospheric and oceanic models describe the Antarctic sea ice albedo?

How well do the regional atmospheric and oceanic models describe the Antarctic sea ice albedo? Kristiina Verro, Cecilia Äijälä, Roberta Pirazzini, Ruzica Dadic, Damien Maure, Willem Jan van de Berg, Giacomo Traversa, Christiaan T. van Dalum, Petteri Uotila, Xavier Fettweis, Biagio Di Mauro, and Milla Johansson The Cryosphere, 19, 4409–4436, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4409-2025, 2025 Accurately representing Antarctic sea ice is essential for reliable climate and ocean model predictions. We evaluated how different models simulate the sea ice's sunlight reflectivity (called albedo) using field and satellite data. Models with simple albedo schemes performed well in limited cases but missed key processes. The advanced scheme in the MetROMS-UHel ocean model provided the most accurate results, including observed day–night albedo changes observed during a field campaign.

‘Focus on value creation; the stock market will settle itself,’ says Snowflake CEO amid bubble fears

Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy said his company is focused on working on adding value as talk of an AI bubble mounts.

Sulfur cycling in thawing permafrost landscapes

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 09 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01804-2

Sea-level rise at the end of the last deglaciation dominated by North American ice sheets

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 09 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01806-0

An Asteroid Just Streaked Over Antarctica, Becoming the Second Closest Flyby Ever Recorded

Learn how astronomers spotted 2025 TF, an asteroid that passed just 266 miles over Antarctica in early October 2025. 

Famed polar exploration ship Endurance not as strong as legend held, researcher says

Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton's crew famously survived after the Endurance became stuck in ice in 1915. A researcher says the ship was ill-equipped for the voyage and Shackleton was aware.

Everest hikers guided to safety after being stranded by blizzard

Hundreds of hikers have been guided to safety in Tibet after becoming trapped over the weekend by heavy snowfall.

Damage intensity increases ice mass loss from Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica

Damage intensity increases ice mass loss from Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica Yanjun Li, Violaine Coulon, Javier Blasco, Gang Qiao, Qinghua Yang, and Frank Pattyn The Cryosphere, 19, 4373–4390, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4373-2025, 2025 We incorporate ice damage processes into an ice-sheet model and apply the new model to Thwaites Glacier. The upgraded model more accurately captures the observed ice mass loss of Thwaites Glacier over 1990–2020. Our simulations show that ice damage has a notable impact on the ice mass loss, grounding-line retreat, ice velocity, and ice thickness of the Thwaites Glacier basin. This study highlights the necessity for incorporating ice damage into ice-sheet models.

Reinforced ridges in Thwaites Glacier yield insights into resolution requirements for coupled ice sheet and solid Earth models

Reinforced ridges in Thwaites Glacier yield insights into resolution requirements for coupled ice sheet and solid Earth models Luc Houriez, Eric Larour, Lambert Caron, Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel, Surendra Adhikari, Erik Ivins, Tyler Pelle, Hélène Seroussi, Eric Darve, and Martin Fischer The Cryosphere, 19, 4355–4372, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4355-2025, 2025 This work examines how interactions between the ice sheet and the Earth’s evolving surface affect the future of Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica. We find that small features in the bedrock play a major role in these interactions which can delay the glacier’s retreat by decades or even centuries. This can significantly reduce sea-level rise projections. Our study highlights resolution requirements for similar ice–earth models and the importance of bedrock mapping efforts in Antarctica.

Brief communication: Enabling open cryosphere research with Ghub

Brief communication: Enabling open cryosphere research with Ghub Joseph P. Tulenko, Sophie A. Goliber, Renette Jones-Ivey, Justin Quinn, Abani Patra, Kristin Poinar, Sophie Nowicki, Beata M. Csatho, and Jason P. Briner The Cryosphere, 19, 4327–4333, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4327-2025, 2025 Ghub is an online platform that hosts tools, datasets, and educational resources related to ice sheet science. These resources are provided by ice sheet researchers and allow other researchers, students, educators, and interested members of the general public to analyze, visualize, and download datasets that researchers use to study past and present ice sheet behavior. We describe how users can interact with Ghub, showcase some available resources, and describe the future of the Ghub project.

Interannual variability in air temperature and snow drives differences in ice formation and growth

Interannual variability in air temperature and snow drives differences in ice formation and growth Arash Rafat and Homa Kheyrollah Pour The Cryosphere, 19, 4335–4353, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4335-2025, 2025 Climate change in Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT) is making lake ice less predictable, thereby affecting ice road safety for northern communities. In this study, observations of significant changes in ice formation and growth between October and December of 2021–2023 in a small NWT lake are related to changes in local snowfall and air temperatures. Collected data were used to develop simple models that can be applied to ice road planning, construction, and design under future and current climate change.

A Weak Hull May Have Sealed the Ship <em>Endurance's</em> Tragic Fate Before It Even Reached Antarctica

Praised as “the strongest polar ship of its time,” the Endurance revealed major structural flaws that may explain why it never reached its final destination.

We May Know Why Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance Really Sank

The explorer’s journey to Antarctica was likely doomed before it began.

Ice shelf calving due to shear stresses: observing the response of Brunt Ice Shelf and Halloween Crack to iceberg calving using ICESat-2 laser altimetry, satellite imagery, and ice flow models

Ice shelf calving due to shear stresses: observing the response of Brunt Ice Shelf and Halloween Crack to iceberg calving using ICESat-2 laser altimetry, satellite imagery, and ice flow models Ashley Morris, Bradley P. Lipovsky, Catherine C. Walker, and Oliver J. Marsh The Cryosphere, 19, 4303–4325, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4303-2025, 2025 Floating ice shelves hold back Antarctic ice flow, but they are thinning and retreating. To help predict future mass loss we need a better understanding of the behavior of the rifts from which icebergs detach. We automate rift width measurement using ICESat-2 laser altimetry over the "Halloween Crack" on Brunt Ice Shelf. We find that rift opening stagnated following calving from an adjacent rift, which we investigate using an ice flow model.

Assessment of thermal stabilization measures based on numerical simulations at a Swiss alpine permafrost site

Assessment of thermal stabilization measures based on numerical simulations at a Swiss alpine permafrost site Elizaveta Sharaborova, Michael Lehning, Nander Wever, Marcia Phillips, and Hendrik Huwald The Cryosphere, 19, 4277–4301, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4277-2025, 2025 Global warming provokes permafrost to thaw, damaging landscapes and infrastructure. This study explores methods to slow this thawing at an alpine site. We investigate different methods based on passive and active cooling. The best approach mixes both methods and manages heat flow, potentially allowing excess energy to be used locally.

Ground ice estimation in permafrost samples using industrial computed tomography and multi-sensor core logging and comparison to destructive measurements

Ground ice estimation in permafrost samples using industrial computed tomography and multi-sensor core logging and comparison to destructive measurements Mahya Roustaei, Joel Pumple, Jordan Harvey, and Duane Froese The Cryosphere, 19, 4259–4275, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4259-2025, 2025 This study investigated the application of CT (computed tomography) scanning to tackle the limitations of traditional destructive methods in characterizing permafrost cores. Five different permafrost cores were scanned at resolutions of 65 and 25 μm with new calibration method. The identification of different materials from CT images showed air (gas), ice (excess and pore), and sediments using an Otsu segmentation method. The results were validated by a destructive (cuboid) and a non-destructive method.

Retrieval and validation of total seasonal liquid water amounts in the percolation zone of the Greenland ice sheet using L-band radiometry

Retrieval and validation of total seasonal liquid water amounts in the percolation zone of the Greenland ice sheet using L-band radiometry Alamgir Hossan, Andreas Colliander, Baptiste Vandecrux, Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel, Joel Harper, Shawn Marshall, and Julie Z. Miller The Cryosphere, 19, 4237–4258, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4237-2025, 2025 We used L-band observations from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission to quantify the surface and subsurface liquid water amounts (LWAs) in the percolation zone of the Greenland ice sheet. The algorithm is described, and the validation results are provided. The results demonstrate the potential for creating an LWA data product across the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), which will advance our understanding of ice sheet physical processes for better projection of Greenland’s contribution to global sea level rise.

Nearly 1,000 people trapped on Mount Everest slopes

Rescue teams have been deployed to clear the snow on the world's tallest mountain, Chinese state media reports.

Was prehistory a feminist paradise?

Visions of matriarchal utopia may be wishful thinking, but there’s growing evidence of women wielding power

There is a stubborn and widely held idea that in some earlier phase of our species’ existence, women had equal status to men, or even ruled, and societies were happier and more peaceful for it. Then along came the patriarchy, and much bloodshed and oppression later, here we all are.

This notion of matriarchy and patriarchy as polar opposites – with a switch having been thrown between them – was seeded in the 19th century by Marxist theory, taking root in archaeology without much evidence. From there it spread to public consciousness.

The before and after images showing glaciers vanishing before our eyes

They are melting like never seen before, changing landscapes around the world beyond recognition.

The great butterfly heist: how a gentleman collector stole thousands of butterflies from Australian museums

Scientists are still unravelling the thefts of Colin Wyatt, an English adventurer, artist and naturalist who charmed the entomological community

The butterfly was dead when the old man found it, lying in the snow 1,600 metres above sea level. It didn’t have a name then, as he bent down and scooped its body up from the ice – a tiny John Doe, light as a feather, barely visible to an untrained eye. But this encounter in the spring of 1922 wasn’t his first brush with the short life cycle of an insect. It wasn’t his first time on Barrington Tops either, a volcanic plateau perched high in the Great Dividing Range of New South Wales. The man’s name was Johnny Hopson but to many he was known as the “Father of the Tops”.

It was no secret that the plateau was good butterfly country; if you picked your moment right, the mountain air would be thick with them, gathering at dusk in cloud-like clusters ripe for someone like Hopson to catch hundreds at a time with a sweep of a net. Or, as in this case, a cold snap or unexpected snowfall might leave the ground littered with delicate corpses, waiting in plain sight for a keen-eyed collector. The butterflies were just the start of its riches and, once word began to spread of this “nature’s wonderland”, collectors swarmed like moths to a flame.

U.S. Research Focus in the Arctic Shifts: Less Climate, More Security

The Trump administration is emphasizing defense concerns instead of climate research in the rapidly warming Arctic region.

Earth system response to Heinrich events explained by a bipolar convection seesaw

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 03 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01814-0

The Greenlandification of Antarctica

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 03 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01805-1

The thermal state of permafrost under climate change on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (1980–2022): a case study of the West Kunlun

The thermal state of permafrost under climate change on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (1980–2022): a case study of the West Kunlun Jianting Zhao, Lin Zhao, Zhe Sun, Guojie Hu, Defu Zou, Minxuan Xiao, Guangyue Liu, Qiangqiang Pang, Erji Du, Zhibin Li, Xiaodong Wu, Yao Xiao, Lingxiao Wang, and Wenxin Zhang The Cryosphere, 19, 4211–4236, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4211-2025, 2025 We used the Moving-Grid Permafrost Model (MVPM) to simulate the permafrost thermal regime in West Kunlun (55,669 km², NW Qinghai–Tibet Plateau), driven by remote-sensing-based land surface temperature (LST; 1980–2022). The model showed high accuracy and stability. Despite ongoing warming (+0.40 °C per decade), permafrost extent remained stable, reflecting delayed deep responses. The permafrost thermal regime reveals altitude- and soil-dependent responses to climate change and offers valuable insights into thermal states in data-scarce regions.

Multi-frequency altimetry snow depth estimates over heterogeneous snow-covered Antarctic summer sea ice – Part 1: C∕S-, Ku-, and Ka-band airborne observations

Multi-frequency altimetry snow depth estimates over heterogeneous snow-covered Antarctic summer sea ice – Part 1: C∕S-, Ku-, and Ka-band airborne observations Renée Mie Fredensborg Hansen, Henriette Skourup, Eero Rinne, Arttu Jutila, Isobel R. Lawrence, Andrew Shepherd, Knut Vilhelm Høyland, Jilu Li, Fernando Rodriguez-Morales, Sebastian Bjerregaaard Simonsen, Jeremy Wilkinson, Gaelle Veyssiere, Donghui Yi, René Forsberg, and Taniâ Gil Duarte Casal The Cryosphere, 19, 4167–4192, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4167-2025, 2025 An airborne campaign collected unprecedented coincident multi-frequency radar and lidar data over sea ice along a CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 (CRYO2ICE) orbit in the Weddell Sea, useful for evaluating microwave snow penetration. Ka-band and Ku-band had limited penetration with significant contributions from the air–snow interface, contradicting traditional assumptions with discrepancies between commonly used C/S-band "snow-radar" methodologies, all challenging comparisons of airborne and spaceborne estimates.

Inside the lab analysing the world's oldest ice

Studying samples from the ice sheet gives an environmental record of over a million years.

Developing a deep learning forecasting system for short-term and high-resolution prediction of sea ice concentration

Developing a deep learning forecasting system for short-term and high-resolution prediction of sea ice concentration Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes The Cryosphere, 19, 4149–4166, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4149-2025, 2025 Recent studies have shown that machine learning models are effective at predicting sea ice concentration, yet few have explored the development of such models in an operational context. In this study, we present the development of a machine learning forecasting system which can predict sea ice concentration at 1 km resolution up to 3 d ahead using real-time operational data. The developed forecasts predict the sea ice edge position with better accuracy than physical and baseline forecasts.

Brief communication: Use of lightweight and low-cost steel net electrodes for electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys performed on coarse-blocky surface environments

Brief communication: Use of lightweight and low-cost steel net electrodes for electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys performed on coarse-blocky surface environments Mirko Pavoni, Luca Peruzzo, Jacopo Boaga, Alberto Carrera, Ilaria Barone, and Alexander Bast The Cryosphere, 19, 4141–4148, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4141-2025, 2025 We propose an alternative electrode to perform Electrical Resistivity Tomography measurements in coarse blocky environments, such as rock glaciers. Compared to the traditional steel spike electrodes, which need to be hammered between the blocks, the proposed steel-net electrodes can be easily pushed between the builders by hand and then removed. Furthermore, the steel-net electrode weighs one-sixth of the steel spike, and is, therefore, easier to carry in challenging mountain environments.

Multi-frequency altimetry snow depth estimates over heterogeneous snow-covered Antarctic summer sea ice – Part 2: Comparing airborne estimates with near-coincident CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 (CRYO2ICE)

Multi-frequency altimetry snow depth estimates over heterogeneous snow-covered Antarctic summer sea ice – Part 2: Comparing airborne estimates with near-coincident CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 (CRYO2ICE) Renée Mie Fredensborg Hansen, Henriette Skourup, Eero Rinne, Arttu Jutila, Isobel R. Lawrence, Andrew Shepherd, Knut Vilhelm Høyland, Jilu Li, Fernando Rodriguez-Morales, Sebastian Bjerregaaard Simonsen, Jeremy Wilkinson, Gaelle Veyssiere, Donghui Yi, René Forsberg, and Taniâ Gil Duarte Casal The Cryosphere, 19, 4193–4209, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4193-2025, 2025 An airborne campaign collected unprecedented coincident multi-frequency radar and lidar data over sea ice along a CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 (CRYO2ICE) orbit in the Weddell Sea, useful for evaluating microwave snow penetration. Ka-band and Ku-band had limited penetration with significant contributions from the air–snow interface, contradicting traditional assumptions with discrepancies between commonly used C/S-band "snow-radar" methodologies, all challenging comparisons of airborne and spaceborne estimates.

1,000 Swiss glaciers already gone, and the melting is speeding up

Swiss glaciers lost nearly 3% of their volume in 2025, following a snow-poor winter and scorching summer heatwaves. The melt has been so extreme that some glaciers lost more than two meters of ice thickness in a single season. Scientists caution that the decline is destabilizing mountains, raising risks of rock and ice avalanches. Long-term monitoring efforts are now more critical than ever.

Age, thinning and spatial origin of the Beyond EPICA ice from a 2.5D ice flow model

Age, thinning and spatial origin of the Beyond EPICA ice from a 2.5D ice flow model Ailsa Chung, Frédéric Parrenin, Robert Mulvaney, Luca Vittuari, Massimo Frezzotti, Antonio Zanutta, David A. Lilien, Marie G. P. Cavitte, and Olaf Eisen The Cryosphere, 19, 4125–4140, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4125-2025, 2025 We applied an ice flow model to a flow line from the summit of Dome C to the Beyond EPICA ice core drill site on Little Dome C in Antarctica. Results show that the oldest ice at the drill site may be 1.12 Ma (at an age density of 20 kyr m-1) and originate from around 15 km upstream. We also discuss the nature of the 200–250 m thick basal layer which could be composed of stagnant ice, disturbed ice or even accreted ice (possibly containing debris).

Antarctic sea ice maximum settles in third place

Will landscape responses reduce glacier sensitivity to climate change in High Mountain Asia?

Will landscape responses reduce glacier sensitivity to climate change in High Mountain Asia? Stephan Harrison, Adina Racoviteanu, Sarah Shannon, Darren Jones, Karen Anderson, Neil Glasser, Jasper Knight, Anna Ranger, Arindan Mandal, Bramha Dutt Vishwakarma, Jeffrey S. Kargel, Dan Shugar, Umesh Haritashya, Dongfeng Li, Aristeidis Koutroulis, Klaus Wyser, and Sam Inglis The Cryosphere, 19, 4113–4124, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4113-2025, 2025 Climate change is leading to a global recession of mountain glaciers, and numerical modelling suggests that this will result in the rapid disappearance of many glaciers, impacting water supplies. However, an alternative scenario suggests that increased rock fall and debris flows to valley bottoms will cover glaciers with thick rock debris, slowing melting and transforming glaciers into rock–ice mixtures called rock glaciers. This paper explores these scenarios.

Improved permafrost modelling in mountain environments by including air convection in a hydrological model

Improved permafrost modelling in mountain environments by including air convection in a hydrological model Gerardo Zegers, Masaki Hayashi, and Rodrigo Pérez-Illanes The Cryosphere, 19, 4091–4112, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4091-2025, 2025 This research showed that airflow within sediment accumulations promotes cooling and sustains mountain permafrost. By enhancing a numerical model, we showed that natural air movement, driven by temperature differences between sediments and external air, allows permafrost to survive. Our work aids in predicting where and how permafrost exists, which is essential for understanding its role in mountain water systems and its response to climate change.

The surface mass balance and near-surface climate of the Antarctic ice sheet in RACMO2.4p1

The surface mass balance and near-surface climate of the Antarctic ice sheet in RACMO2.4p1 Christiaan T. van Dalum, Willem Jan van de Berg, Michiel R. van den Broeke, and Maurice van Tiggelen The Cryosphere, 19, 4061–4090, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4061-2025, 2025 In this study, we present a new surface mass balance (SMB) and near-surface climate product for Antarctica with the regional climate model RACMO2.4p1. We assess the impact of major model updates on the climate of Antarctica. Locally, the SMB has changed substantially but also agrees well with observations. In addition, we show that the SMB components, surface energy budget, albedo, pressure, temperature, and wind speed compare well with in situ and remote sensing observations.

Watch: Polar bears occupy abandoned Soviet-era research station

Drone footage captures a group of polar bears living inside an abandoned research station on Russia's Kolyuchin Island.

Earth from Space: Northeast Greenland National Park

Image: Part of the icy landscape of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world, is pictured in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image.

4D GPR imaging of a near-terminus glacier collapse feature

4D GPR imaging of a near-terminus glacier collapse feature Bastien Ruols, Johanna Klahold, Daniel Farinotti, and James Irving The Cryosphere, 19, 4045–4059, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4045-2025, 2025 We demonstrate the use of a drone-based ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system to gather high-resolution, high-density 4D data over a near-terminus glacier collapse feature. We monitor the growth of an air cavity and the evolution of the subglacial drainage system, providing insights into the dynamics of the collapse event. This work highlights potential future applications of drone-based GPR for monitoring glaciers, in particular in regions which are inaccessible by surface-based methods.

Totten Ice Shelf history over the past century interpreted from satellite imagery

Totten Ice Shelf history over the past century interpreted from satellite imagery Bertie W. J. Miles, Tian Li, and Robert G. Bingham The Cryosphere, 19, 4027–4043, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4027-2025, 2025 Totten Glacier, East Antarctica's largest mass-loss source, has thinned since at least the 1990s. No sustained acceleration has occurred since 1973, but earlier grounding-line retreat suggests prior loss. A ~20-year gap in surface undulations implies a mid-20th-century warm period that may have triggered ongoing loss. Collapse of a nearby ice shelf supports this. Current ~30-year satellite records are too short to capture full decadal melt-rate variability.

Arctic CO₂ emissions amplified by aerobic methane oxidation during the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 25 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01784-3

Greenland contraception scandal victims hear Danish PM's emotional apology

One woman was given an ovation for saying the apology was crucial for the victims to move on.

Retrieval of atmospheric water vapor and temperature profiles over Antarctica from satellite microwave observations using an iterative approach

Retrieval of atmospheric water vapor and temperature profiles over Antarctica from satellite microwave observations using an iterative approach Zhimeng Zhang, Shannon Brown, and Andreas Colliander The Cryosphere, 19, 4011–4026, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4011-2025, 2025 Retrieving accurate water vapor and temperature profiles over land is challenging due to uncertainties in estimating surface emissions. To address this, we have developed an iterative method that combines atmospheric retrieval with surface emissions estimation. Using Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) data across various microwave frequencies, we successfully tracked atmospheric temperature and humidity changes. Testing against Radiosonde data showed our method is efficient and accurate, especially in detecting melting events.

Wildland fires delay Arctic snow cover formation

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 24 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02444-5

Comparing thaw probing, electrical resistivity tomography, and airborne lidar to quantify lateral and vertical thaw in rapidly degrading boreal permafrost

Comparing thaw probing, electrical resistivity tomography, and airborne lidar to quantify lateral and vertical thaw in rapidly degrading boreal permafrost Thomas A. Douglas, M. Torre Jorgenson, Taylor Sullivan, and Caiyun Zhang The Cryosphere, 19, 3991–4009, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3991-2025, 2025 Permafrost thaw across Earth's high latitudes is leading to dramatic changes in vegetation and hydrology. We undertook a two-decade-long study on the Tanana Flats near Fairbanks, Alaska, to measure permafrost thaw and associated ground surface subsidence via field-based and remote-sensing techniques. The study identified strengths and limitations of the three methods we used to quantify permafrost thaw degradation.

Delayed formation of Arctic snow cover in response to wildland fires in a warming climate

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 23 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02443-6

Even subzero parts of the Arctic are thawing. Ancient salt is the culprit

Long-buried layers of saline permafrost seem to be accelerating climate change's transformation of the Arctic

The shocking reason Arctic rivers are turning rusty orange

Researchers found that ice can trigger stronger chemical reactions than liquid water, dissolving iron minerals in extreme cold. Freeze-thaw cycles amplify the effect, releasing iron into rivers and soils. With climate change accelerating these cycles, Arctic waterways may face major transformations.

Comparing high-resolution snow mapping approaches in palsa mires: UAS lidar vs. modelling

Comparing high-resolution snow mapping approaches in palsa mires: UAS lidar vs. modelling Alexander Störmer, Timo Kumpula, Miguel Villoslada, Pasi Korpelainen, Henning Schumacher, and Benjamin Burkhard The Cryosphere, 19, 3949–3970, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3949-2025, 2025 Snow has a major impact on palsa dynamics, yet our understanding of its distribution at the small scale remains limited. We used unoccupied aerial system (UAS) light detection and ranging (lidar) and ground truth data in combination with machine learning to model snow distribution at three palsa sites. We identified extremes in snow depth corresponding to palsa topography, providing insights into the influence of the distribution on their dynamics. The results demonstrate the usability of machine learning and UAS lidar for small-scale snow distribution mapping.

Short and Long-term Grounding Zone Dynamics of Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica

Short and Long-term Grounding Zone Dynamics of Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica Yikai Zhu, Anna E. Hogg, Andrew Hooper, and Benjamin J. Wallis The Cryosphere, 19, 3971–3989, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3971-2025, 2025 This study investigates the long- and short-term changes in the grounding line of the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica, using satellite observations and a method called Differential Range Offset Tracking (DROT). Our findings show how the grounding line behaves in response to tides and other environmental factors, with implications for understanding ice shelf stability.

A tale of two pulses: Observational evidence for two distinct polarized emission sites in gamma-ray burst outflow

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the brightest explosions in the universe. In just a few seconds, they can outshine all the stars in their host galaxy combined, releasing more energy than our sun will emit over its entire lifetime. Yet, despite decades of observations, key mysteries remain unsolved: What powers the prompt emission? What is the jet's structure? And what is it made of?

85 new subglacial lakes detected below Antarctica

Hidden beneath the biggest ice mass on Earth, hundreds of subglacial lakes form a crucial part of Antarctica’s icy structure, affecting the movement and stability of glaciers, and consequentially influencing global sea level rise.

Thanks to a decade of data from the European Space Agency’s CryoSat satellite, researchers have identified 85 previously unknown lakes several kilometres under the frozen surface surrounding the South Pole. This increases the number of known active subglacial lakes below Antarctica by more than half to 231.

Emerging risks along Arctic coastlines

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02441-8

Snow depth derived from Sentinel-1 compared to in situ observations in northern Finland

Snow depth derived from Sentinel-1 compared to in situ observations in northern Finland Adriano Lemos and Aku Riihelä The Cryosphere, 19, 3939–3947, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3939-2025, 2025 Here we used satellite imagery to measure snow depth in northern Finland and compared our results to on-site measurements from 2019–2022. We correlated snow depths and vegetation coverage and found thicker snow over non-vegetated areas and frozen waterbodies due to the satellite's sensitivity. Our estimates showed underestimated results of snow depth and need further investigation, but they show potential in monitoring seasonal snow changes, particularly where direct measurements are lacking.

Regional and seasonal evolution of melt ponds on Arctic sea ice

Regional and seasonal evolution of melt ponds on Arctic sea ice Hannah Niehaus, Gunnar Spreen, Larysa Istomina, and Marcel Nicolaus The Cryosphere, 19, 3915–3938, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3915-2025, 2025 Melt ponds on Arctic sea ice affect how much solar energy is absorbed, impacting Arctic warming and global climate. In this study satellite data (2017–2023) is used to examine how these ponds vary across regions and seasons. The results show that the surface fraction of melt ponds is more stable in the Central Arctic, with air temperature and surface roughness playing key roles in their formation. Understanding these patterns can help to improve climate models and predictions for Arctic warming.

Scientists stunned by salt giants forming beneath the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea isn’t just the saltiest body of water on Earth—it’s a living laboratory for the formation of giant underground salt deposits. Researchers are unraveling how evaporation, temperature shifts, and unusual mixing patterns lead to phenomena like “salt snow,” which falls in summer as well as winter. These processes mirror what happened millions of years ago in the Mediterranean, leaving behind thick salt layers still buried today.

Why Alaska’s salmon streams are suddenly bleeding orange

Warming Arctic permafrost is unlocking toxic metals, turning Alaska’s once-clear rivers into orange, acid-laced streams. The shift, eerily similar to mine pollution but entirely natural, threatens fish, ecosystems, and communities that depend on them—with no way to stop the process once it starts.

Is the US on the brink of a new era of political violence? – podcast

The murder of political activist Charlie Kirk has prompted fears about rising levels of political violence in the US after a number of high-profile assassinations and attempted assassinations of political figures in recent years. But how connected are these events and do they signal a rise in public support for this kind of violence? To find out Ian Sample speaks to Sean Westwood, an associate professor in political science at Dartmouth College and director of the Polarization Research Lab. He explains how political violence has evolved and why overestimating the support for such acts can be dangerous

Obama says Trump deepened US divide in rush to ‘identify enemy’ after Charlie Kirk shooting

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2025 Arctic sea ice minimum squeezes into the ten lowest minimums

Mars's chilly north polar vortex may create a seasonal ozone layer

A rare glimpse into the wintry conditions of the Mars north polar vortex has shown that temperatures inside the vortex are far colder than outside, and that the permanent darkness that winter brings to the Martian north pole facilitates a surge in ozone in the atmosphere.

A rover to mine Martian volcanoes

Different parts of Mars have different advantages and disadvantages when it comes to their available resources, just like Earth. The polar caps are likely the most valuable in terms of their water content, which will be critical to any early stage crewed mission to the red planet.

New images reveal unexpected polarization flips near M87's supermassive black hole

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, with a substantial contribution from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), has unveiled new, detailed images of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87. These reveal a dynamic environment with changing polarization patterns near the black hole. For the first time in EHT data, scientists have also detected signatures of extended jet emission near the jet base, where it connects to the ring around the black hole.

Seasonal and interannual variability in freshwater sources for Greenland's fjords

Seasonal and interannual variability in freshwater sources for Greenland's fjords Anneke L. Vries, Willem Jan van de Berg, Brice Noël, Lorenz Meire, and Michiel R. van den Broeke The Cryosphere, 19, 3897–3914, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3897-2025, 2025 Freshwater flows into Greenland's fjords from various sources. Solid ice discharge (e.g. calving icebergs) dominates freshwater input in the southeast and northwest. In contrast, in the southwest, runoff from the ice sheet and tundra are the most significant. Seasonal data revealed that fjord precipitation and tundra runoff contribute up to 11 % and 35 % of the monthly freshwater input, respectively. Our results provide valuable input for ocean models and for researchers studying fjord ecosystems.

Decadal re-forecasts of glacier climatic mass balance

Decadal re-forecasts of glacier climatic mass balance Larissa Nora van der Laan, Anouk Vlug, Adam A. Scaife, Fabien Maussion, and Kristian Förster The Cryosphere, 19, 3879–3896, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3879-2025, 2025 Usually, glacier models are supplied with climate information from long (e.g., 100-year) simulations by global climate models. In this paper, we test the feasibility of supplying glacier models with shorter simulations to get more accurate information on 5–10-year timescales. Reliable information on these timescales is very important, especially for water management experts, to know how much meltwater to expect, affecting rivers, agriculture and drinking water.

Brief communication: Daily, gap-free snow cover information based on a combination of NPP VIIRS and MODIS data

Brief communication: Daily, gap-free snow cover information based on a combination of NPP VIIRS and MODIS data Andreas J. Dietz and Sebastian Roessler The Cryosphere, 19, 3873–3877, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3873-2025, 2025 The "Global SnowPack" product of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) contains binary information about the presence or absence of snow on a global scale since the year 2000. Now incorporating new input datasets, it was possible to increase the spatial resolution to 370 m. The detailed accuracy assessment proves the feasibility of the applied methods to remove data gaps caused by clouds and polar darkness.

Sub-shelf melt pattern and ice sheet mass loss governed by meltwater flow below ice shelves

Sub-shelf melt pattern and ice sheet mass loss governed by meltwater flow below ice shelves Franka Jesse, Erwin Lambert, and Roderik S. W. van de Wal The Cryosphere, 19, 3849–3872, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3849-2025, 2025 We introduce the coupling of a sub-shelf melt model with an ice sheet model to explore how horizontal meltwater flow below ice shelves affects ice sheet mass loss over time. We show that accurately modelling the meltwater flow direction leads to distinct feedbacks and transient volume loss not captured by melt parameterisations that simplify flow direction. Our results highlight the importance of refining the meltwater flow representation in ice sheet models to improve sea level projections.

Drift-aware sea ice thickness maps from satellite remote sensing

Drift-aware sea ice thickness maps from satellite remote sensing Robert Ricker, Thomas Lavergne, Stefan Hendricks, Stephan Paul, Emily Down, Mari Anne Killie, and Marion Bocquet The Cryosphere, 19, 3785–3803, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3785-2025, 2025 We developed a new method to map Arctic sea ice thickness daily using satellite measurements. We address a problem similar to motion blur in photography. Traditional methods collect satellite data over 1 month to get a full picture of Arctic sea ice thickness. But in the same way as in photos of moving objects, long exposure leads to motion blur, making it difficult to identify certain features in the sea ice maps. Our method corrects for this motion blur, providing a sharper view of the evolving sea ice.

Spatio-temporal snow data assimilation with the ICESat-2 laser altimeter

Spatio-temporal snow data assimilation with the ICESat-2 laser altimeter Marco Mazzolini, Kristoffer Aalstad, Esteban Alonso-González, Sebastian Westermann, and Désirée Treichler The Cryosphere, 19, 3831–3848, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3831-2025, 2025 In this work, we showcase the use the satellite laser altimeter ICESat-2, which is able to retrieve snow depth in areas where snow amounts are still poorly estimated despite the importance of these water resources. We can update snow models with these observations through algorithms that spatially propagate the information beyond the satellite profiles. The positive results show the potential of the approach to improve snow simulations, in terms of average snow depth and spatial distribution.

Lasers can melt through extraterrestrial ice efficiently

Lasers aren't just useful for entertaining cats or pointing out features of PowerPoint slides. They can also drill holes on icy extraterrestrial bodies from comets to Mars polar caps—at least, according to a new paper published in Acta Astronautica by researchers at the Technical University of Dresden, who describe a new laser drill for use on icy surfaces throughout our solar system.

Observations investigate the nature of a newly discovered odd radio circle

Astronomers from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany and elsewhere have conducted radio spectropolarimetric observations of a recently identified odd radio circle designated ORC J0356–4216. Results of the observational campaign, presented Sept. 5 on the arXiv pre-print server, shed more light on the nature of this object.

Linking crystallographic orientation and ice stream dynamics: evidence from the EastGRIP ice core

Linking crystallographic orientation and ice stream dynamics: evidence from the EastGRIP ice core Nicolas Stoll, Ilka Weikusat, Daniela Jansen, Paul Bons, Kyra Darányi, Julien Westhoff, María-Gema Llorens, David Wallis, Jan Eichler, Tomotaka Saruya, Tomoyuki Homma, Sune Olander Rasmussen, Giulia Sinnl, Anders Svensson, Martyn Drury, Frank Wilhelms, Sepp Kipfstuhl, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, and Johanna Kerch The Cryosphere, 19, 3805–3830, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3805-2025, 2025 A better understanding of ice flow requires more observational data. The EastGRIP core is the first ice core through an active ice stream. We discuss crystal orientation data determining the present deformation regimes.  A comparison with other deep cores shows the unique properties of EastGRIP and shows that deep ice likely originates from the Eemian. We further show that the overall plug flow of NEGIS is characterised by many small-scale variations, which remain to be considered in ice flow models.

Melting glaciers mean an uncertain future for Europe's rivers

Europe is warming faster than any continent. That's speeding up glacial melt, which is already threatening Europe's largest rivers.

The Greenland Ice Sheet Large Ensemble (GrISLENS): simulating the future of Greenland under climate variability

The Greenland Ice Sheet Large Ensemble (GrISLENS): simulating the future of Greenland under climate variability Vincent Verjans, Alexander A. Robel, Lizz Ultee, Helene Seroussi, Andrew F. Thompson, Lars Ackermann, Youngmin Choi, and Uta Krebs-Kanzow The Cryosphere, 19, 3749–3783, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3749-2025, 2025 This study examines how random variations in climate may influence future ice loss from the Greenland ice sheet. We find that random climate variations are important for predicting future ice loss from the entire Greenland ice sheet over the next 20–30 years but relatively unimportant after that period. Thus, uncertainty in sea level projections from the effect of climate variability on Greenland may play a role in coastal decision-making about sea level rise over the next few decades.

Groundwater dynamics beneath a marine ice sheet

Groundwater dynamics beneath a marine ice sheet Gabriel J. Cairns, Graham P. Benham, and Ian J. Hewitt The Cryosphere, 19, 3725–3747, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3725-2025, 2025 Thick layers of porous rock known as sedimentary basins lie underneath many glaciers in Antarctica that flow into the sea. These layers contain large amounts of groundwater, some of which is seawater. We use a mathematical model to predict how groundwater flows through these basins, finding that seawater can become trapped due to changes in the ice sheet over time. We also predict where water flows out of (or into) these basins, and we discuss possible implications for the glacier.

Tiny skaters beneath the arctic ice rewrite the limits of life

Hidden within Arctic ice, diatoms are proving to be anything but dormant. New Stanford research shows these glass-walled algae glide through frozen channels at record-breaking subzero temperatures, powered by mucus-like ropes and molecular motors. Their astonishing resilience raises questions about how life adapts in extreme conditions and highlights the urgency of studying polar ecosystems before they vanish.

Model-based analysis of solute transport and potential carbon mineralization in the active layer of a hillslope underlain by permafrost with seasonal variability and climate change

Model-based analysis of solute transport and potential carbon mineralization in the active layer of a hillslope underlain by permafrost with seasonal variability and climate change Alexandra Hamm, Erik Schytt Mannerfelt, Aaron A. Mohammed, Scott L. Painter, Ethan T. Coon, and Andrew Frampton The Cryosphere, 19, 3693–3724, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3693-2025, 2025 The fate of thawing permafrost carbon is essential for understanding the permafrost–climate feedback and projections of future climate. Here we study transport of organic carbon by groundwater in the active layer of a hillslope model. We find that carbon transport velocities and microbial mineralization rates are strongly dependent on liquid saturation in the seasonally thawed active layer. In a warming climate, the rate at which permafrost thaws determines how fast carbon can be transported.

Retreating Ice Has Revealed a New Island in Alaska

Learn more about the new island that's resurfaced in an Alaskan lake as glaciers recede. 

A thicker-than-present East Antarctic Ice Sheet plateau during the Last Glacial Maximum

A thicker-than-present East Antarctic Ice Sheet plateau during the Last Glacial Maximum Cari Rand, Richard S. Jones, Andrew N. Mackintosh, Brent Goehring, and Kat Lilly The Cryosphere, 19, 3681–3691, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3681-2025, 2025 In this study, we determine how recently samples from a mountain in East Antarctica were last covered by the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.  By examining concentrations of 14C in rock samples, we determined that all but the summit of the mountain was buried under glacial ice within the last 15 kyr. Other methods of estimating past ice thicknesses are not sensitive enough to capture ice cover this recent, so we were previously unaware that ice at this site was thicker at this time.

Ongoing firn warming at Eclipse Icefield, Yukon, indicates potential widespread meltwater percolation and retention in firn pack across the St. Elias Range

Ongoing firn warming at Eclipse Icefield, Yukon, indicates potential widespread meltwater percolation and retention in firn pack across the St. Elias Range Ingalise Kindstedt, Dominic Winski, C. Max Stevens, Emma Skelton, Luke Copland, Karl Kreutz, Mikaila Mannello, Renée Clavette, Jacob Holmes, Mary Albert, and Scott N. Williamson The Cryosphere, 19, 3655–3680, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3655-2025, 2025 Atmospheric warming over mountain glaciers is leading to increased warming and melting of snow as it compresses into glacier ice. This affects both regional hydrology and climate records contained in the ice. Here we use field observations and modeling to show that surface melting and percolation at Eclipse Icefield (Yukon, Canada) are increasing with an increase in extreme melt events and that compressing snow at Eclipse is likely to continue warming even if air temperatures remain stable.

Simulating the Holocene evolution of Ryder Glacier, North Greenland

Simulating the Holocene evolution of Ryder Glacier, North Greenland Jamie Barnett, Felicity A. Holmes, Joshua Cuzzone, Henning Åkesson, Mathieu Morlighem, Matt O'Regan, Johan Nilsson, Nina Kirchner, and Martin Jakobsson The Cryosphere, 19, 3631–3653, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3631-2025, 2025 Understanding how ice sheets have changed in the past can allow us to make better predictions for the future. By running a state-of-the-art model of Ryder Glacier, North Greenland, over the past 12 000 years we find that both a warming atmosphere and the ocean play a key role in the evolution of the glacier. Our conclusions stress that accurately quantifying the ice sheet’s interactions with the ocean is required to predict future changes and reliable sea level rise estimates.

Brief communication: The Danish replicate drilling system – results from the first field test

Brief communication: The Danish replicate drilling system – results from the first field test Julien Westhoff, Grant Vernon Boeckmann, Nicholas Mossor Rathmann, and Steffen Bo Hansen The Cryosphere, 19, 3623–3630, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3623-2025, 2025 We report on the successful test of a new replicate drilling system for ice cores. This system allows for the ice core drill to deviate from the parent (the original borehole), drilling into the side of the wall. Thus, we can produce a second ice core from any desired depth, increasing the amount of sample available for scientific purposes. In the paper, we present the results from the first field tests and the challenges we encountered.

Modeled Greenland Ice Sheet evolution constrained by ice-core-derived Holocene elevation histories

Modeled Greenland Ice Sheet evolution constrained by ice-core-derived Holocene elevation histories Mikkel Langgaard Lauritzen, Anne Solgaard, Nicholas Mossor Rathmann, Bo Møllesøe Vinther, Aslak Grindsted, Brice Noël, Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, and Christine Schøtt Hvidberg The Cryosphere, 19, 3599–3622, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3599-2025, 2025 We studied the Holocene (past 11 700 years) to understand how the Greenland Ice Sheet has changed. Using 841 computer simulations, we tested different scenarios and matched them to historical ice elevation data, confirming our model's accuracy. Results show that Greenland's melting has raised sea levels by about 5.3 m since the Holocene began and by around 12 mm in just the past 500 years.

Enhanced West Antarctic ice loss triggered by polynya response to meridional winds

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 10 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01757-6

Antarctica’s frozen heart is warming fast, and models missed it

New research has revealed that East Antarctica’s vast and icy interior is heating up faster than its coasts, fueled by warm air carried from the Southern Indian Ocean. Using 30 years of weather station data, scientists uncovered a hidden climate driver that current models fail to capture, suggesting the world’s largest ice reservoir may be more vulnerable than previously thought.

Protect Arctic from 'dangerous' climate engineering, scientists warn

Controversial approaches to cooling the planet are unlikely to work, according to dozens of polar scientists.

Retrieving frozen ground surface temperature under the snowpack in the Arctic permafrost area from SMOS observations

Retrieving frozen ground surface temperature under the snowpack in the Arctic permafrost area from SMOS observations Juliette Ortet, Arnaud Mialon, Alain Royer, Mike Schwank, Manu Holmberg, Kimmo Rautiainen, Simone Bircher-Adrot, Andreas Colliander, Yann Kerr, and Alexandre Roy The Cryosphere, 19, 3571–3598, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3571-2025, 2025 We propose a new method to determine the ground surface temperature under the snowpack in the Arctic area from satellite observations. The obtained ground temperature time series were evaluated over 21 reference sites in Northern Alaska and compared with ground temperatures obtained with global models. The method is extremely promising for monitoring ground temperature below the snowpack and studying the spatio-temporal variability thanks to 15 years of observations over the whole Arctic area.

Scope for waterfowl to speed up migration to a warming Arctic

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 09 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02419-6

Thawing permafrost is turning Arctic rivers orange—spelling trouble for fish

In Alaska’s Salmon River, leached metals reach levels that are toxic for aquatic life

Ultra-wideband radio observations unravel polarization mystery of millisecond pulsar

Within our Milky Way galaxy, in the direction of the constellation Vulpecula, a cosmic "lighthouse" named PSR B1937+21 spins at an astonishing rate of 642 revolutions per second. It emits electromagnetic pulses that rival the precision of atomic clocks.

Enhanced MODIS-derived ice physical properties within the Common Land Model (CoLM) revealing bare-ice–snow albedo feedback over Greenland

Enhanced MODIS-derived ice physical properties within the Common Land Model (CoLM) revealing bare-ice–snow albedo feedback over Greenland Shuyang Guo, Yongjiu Dai, Hua Yuan, and Hongbin Liang The Cryosphere, 19, 3553–3570, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3553-2025, 2025 The Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiation Model version 4 has only been used to evaluate bare-ice albedo in land surface models, with necessary ice property data lacking quality control. We integrated this model into our land surface model and improved bare-ice properties using quality-controlled satellite data. Our findings show regional warming and reduced snow cover in Greenland’s bare-ice region, driven by changes in bare-ice properties through bare-ice–snow albedo feedback.

Warming depletes topsoil nitrogen stocks in a Tibetan permafrost ecosystem

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 08 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01794-1

US pilot and influencer released from Chilean air base in Antarctica

Ethan Guo, 20, had been detained since June after being accused of landing his Cessna illegally in Chilean territory in the Antarctic.

Satellites confirm 1990s sea-level predictions were shockingly accurate

Satellite data reveals sea-level rise has unfolded almost exactly as predicted by 1990s climate models, with one key underestimation: melting ice sheets. Researchers stress the importance of refining local projections as seas continue to rise faster than before.

Southern Ocean sea-ice leads: first insights into regional lead patterns, seasonality, and trends, 2003–2023

Southern Ocean sea-ice leads: first insights into regional lead patterns, seasonality, and trends, 2003–2023 Umesh Dubey, Sascha Willmes, and Günther Heinemann The Cryosphere, 19, 3535–3552, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3535-2025, 2025 Sea-ice leads facilitate the exchange of heat and moisture between the ocean and the atmosphere during wintertime. We present a new dataset on monthly wintertime sea-ice leads in the Southern Ocean from 2003 to 2023. Our study reveals distinct regional patterns, seasonal variability, and small but significant trends. Here, we present initial findings on Southern Ocean lead dynamics to support future research into the complex pan-Antarctic interactions among sea ice, ocean, and atmosphere.

ITS_LIVE global glacier velocity data in near-real time

ITS_LIVE global glacier velocity data in near-real time Alex S. Gardner, Chad A. Greene, Joseph H. Kennedy, Mark A. Fahnestock, Maria Liukis, Luis A. López, Yang Lei, Ted A. Scambos, and Amaury Dehecq The Cryosphere, 19, 3517–3533, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3517-2025, 2025 The NASA MEaSUREs Inter-mission Time Series of Land Ice Velocity and Elevation (ITS_LIVE) project provides glacier and ice sheet velocity products for the full Landsat, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 satellite archives and will soon include data from the NISAR satellite. This paper describes the ITS_LIVE processing chain and gives guidance for working with the cloud-optimized glacier and ice sheet velocity products.

New Species Identified On Antarctic Seafloor that was Once Covered By a Massive Ice Sheet

After a Chicago-sized ice sheet broke away from Antarctica, a thriving ecosystem was exposed. Learn more about the species researchers found there.

Optimizing rock glacier activity classification in South Tyrol (northeastern Italy): integrating multisource data with statistical modelling

Optimizing rock glacier activity classification in South Tyrol (northeastern Italy): integrating multisource data with statistical modelling Chiara Crippa, Stefan Steger, Giovanni Cuozzo, Francesca Bearzot, Volkmar Mair, and Claudia Notarnicola The Cryosphere, 19, 3493–3515, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3493-2025, 2025 Our study, focused on South Tyrol (NE Italy), develops an updated and comprehensive activity classification system for all rock glaciers in the current regional inventory. Using multisource products, we integrate climatic, morphological, and  differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) data in replicable routines and multivariate statistical methods, producing a comprehensive classification based on the updated Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematic (RGIK) 2023 guidelines. Results leave only 3.5 % of the features non-classified, as opposed to 13–18.5 % in previous studies.

Analyzing vegetation effects on snow depth variability in Alaska's boreal forests with airborne lidar

Analyzing vegetation effects on snow depth variability in Alaska's boreal forests with airborne lidar Lora D. May, Svetlana L. Stuefer, Scott D. Goddard, and Christopher F. Larsen The Cryosphere, 19, 3477–3492, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3477-2025, 2025 We contribute to limited boreal forest snow remote sensing research by analyzing field snow depth and airborne lidar data. Two new lidar snow depth and canopy height products are evaluated for application at a boreal forest site in Alaska. Our results show that airborne lidar can effectively estimate snow depths in the boreal forest, should be validated and assessed for errors using ground-based measurements, and can assist water and resource managers in estimating snow depth in boreal forests.

Modelling the evolution of permafrost temperatures and active layer thickness in King George Island, Antarctica, since 1950

Modelling the evolution of permafrost temperatures and active layer thickness in King George Island, Antarctica, since 1950 Joana Pedro Baptista, Gonçalo Brito Guapo Teles Vieira, António Manuel de Carvalho Soares Correia, Hyoungseok Lee, and Sebastian Westermann The Cryosphere, 19, 3459–3476, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3459-2025, 2025 Permafrost underlies ice-free areas of Antarctica, but its response to long-term warming is unclear due to a limited number of monitoring sites. To address this, we used the CryoGrid model, forced with climate data, to estimate permafrost temperatures and active layer thickness at King Sejong Station since 1950. The results show ground temperatures rising 0.25 °C per decade and the active layer thickening by 2 m. Warming has accelerated since 2015, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.

Reconstruction of mass balance and firn stratigraphy during the 1996–2011 warm period at high altitude on Mount Ortles, Eastern Alps: a comparison of modelled and ice core results

Reconstruction of mass balance and firn stratigraphy during the 1996–2011 warm period at high altitude on Mount Ortles, Eastern Alps: a comparison of modelled and ice core results Luca Carturan, Alexander C. Ihle, Federico Cazorzi, Tiziana Lazzarina Zendrini, Fabrizio De Blasi, Giancarlo Dalla Fontana, Giuliano Dreossi, Daniela Festi, Bryan Mark, Klaus Dieter Oeggl, Roberto Seppi, Barbara Stenni, and Paolo Gabrielli The Cryosphere, 19, 3443–3458, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3443-2025, 2025 Paleoclimatic glacial archives in low-latitude mountains are increasingly affected by melt, causing heavy percolation and removing snow and firn accumulated across months, seasons, or even years. Here we present a proxy system model that explicitly accounts for melt in ice and firn cores. Compared to traditional annual layer counting, the model significantly improved the interpretation and annual dating of the Mt Ortles firn core, in the Italian Alps, which includes the very warm summer of 2003.

Central Asia’s last stable glaciers just started to collapse

Snowfall shortages are now destabilizing some of the world’s last resilient glaciers, as shown by a new study in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains. Using a monitoring station on Kyzylsu Glacier, researchers discovered that stability ended around 2018, when snowfall declined sharply and melt accelerated. The work sheds light on the Pamir-Karakoram Anomaly, where glaciers had resisted climate change longer than expected.

Watch: Captain Scott’s famous polar shipwreck as never seen before

The Terra Nova carried Captain Scott and his men on their doomed expedition to the South Pole.

Progressive decline in soil nitrogen stocks with warming in a Tibetan permafrost ecosystem

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 02 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01786-1

'Soot planets' might be more common than 'water worlds'

According to astronomers, water worlds, though admittedly not those containing Kevin Costner, are one of the most common types of planets in our solar system. This is partly due to low density estimates and the abundance of water ice past the "snow line" orbit of a star.

Assessing spatiotemporal variability in melt–refreeze patterns in firn over Greenland with CryoSat-2

Assessing spatiotemporal variability in melt–refreeze patterns in firn over Greenland with CryoSat-2 Weiran Li, Stef Lhermitte, Bert Wouters, Cornelis Slobbe, Max Brils, and Xavier Fettweis The Cryosphere, 19, 3419–3442, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3419-2025, 2025 Due to recurrent melt and refreezing events in recent decades, the snow conditions over Greenland have changed. To observe this, we use a parameter (leading edge width; LeW) derived from satellite altimetry and analyse its spatial and temporal variations. By comparing the LeW variations with modelled firn parameters, we concluded that the 2012 melt event and the recent and increasingly frequent melt events have a long-lasting impact on the volume scattering of Greenland firn. 

'AI may eat software,' but several tech names just wrapped a huge week

MongoDB, Pure Storage and Snowflake all touted artificial intelligence in earnings reports this week.

Jenny Cox obituary

When my mother, Jenny Cox, who has died aged 86 of cancer, was admitted to hospice care, she told staff of her passions: her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, plants and the great outdoors – and her concertinas.

She also brought up an old injustice. An adventurous botanist, in her Jenny had planned to do a PhD on the flora of the inhospitable island of South Georgia, in the south Atlantic. However, the British Antarctic Survey vetoed it: no unmarried women. A feminist fire was lit. Jenny’s marriage to my father, Peter, lasted more than 60 years. A hands-on mother of three sons, she retrained as a teacher and worked in primary schools in Bristol.

Investigating seasonal and multi-decadal water/ice storage changes in the Murtèl rock glacier using time-lapse gravimetry

Investigating seasonal and multi-decadal water/ice storage changes in the Murtèl rock glacier using time-lapse gravimetry Landon J. S. Halloran and Dominik Amschwand The Cryosphere, 19, 3397–3417, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3397-2025, 2025 Rock glaciers (RGs) are permafrost landforms occurring in many alpine regions. Gravimetry measures g (acceleration due to gravity). Decreases in water and/or ice content in the ground near a measurement point make g decrease, too. In this first study of its kind, we measured changes in g to calculate subsurface ice melt in a RG. Our approach helps measure and understand invisible underground ice and water processes in rapidly changing permafrost environments.

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds

Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact.

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a major part of the global climate system. It brings sun-warmed tropical water to Europe and the Arctic, where it cools and sinks to form a deep return current. The Amoc was already known to be at its weakest in 1,600 years as a result of the climate crisis.

Current and future methane emissions from boreal-Arctic wetlands and lakes

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 28 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02413-y

Denmark apologises to Greenland's victims of forced contraception scandal

Mette Frederiksen says sorry to to women who were fitted with devices, sometimes without their knowledge.

Finely resolved along-track wave attenuation estimates in the Antarctic marginal ice zone from ICESat-2

Finely resolved along-track wave attenuation estimates in the Antarctic marginal ice zone from ICESat-2 Joey J. Voermans, Alexander D. Fraser, Jill Brouwer, Michael H. Meylan, Qingxiang Liu, and Alexander V. Babanin The Cryosphere, 19, 3381–3395, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3381-2025, 2025 Limited measurements of waves in sea ice exist, preventing our understanding of wave attenuation in sea ice under a wide range of ice conditions. Using satellite observations from ICESat-2, we observe an overall linear increase in the wave attenuation rate with distance into the marginal ice zone. While attenuation may vary greatly locally, this finding may provide opportunities for the modeling of waves in sea ice at global and climate scales when such fine detail may not be needed.

Denmark summons top US diplomat over alleged Greenland influence operation

The aim was reportedly to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark.

Gravity-derived Antarctic bathymetry using the Tomofast-x open-source code: a case study of Vincennes Bay

Gravity-derived Antarctic bathymetry using the Tomofast-x open-source code: a case study of Vincennes Bay Lawrence A. Bird, Vitaliy Ogarko, Laurent Ailleres, Lachlan Grose, Jérémie Giraud, Felicity S. McCormack, David E. Gwyther, Jason L. Roberts, Richard S. Jones, and Andrew N. Mackintosh The Cryosphere, 19, 3355–3380, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3355-2025, 2025 The terrain of the seafloor has important controls on the access of warm water below floating ice shelves around Antarctica. Here, we present an open-source method to infer what the seafloor looks like around the Antarctic continent and within these ice shelf cavities, using measurements of the Earth's gravitational field. We present an improved seafloor map for the Vincennes Bay region in East Antarctica and assess its impact on ice melt rates.

Improved modelling of mountain snowpacks with spatially distributed precipitation bias correction derived from historical reanalysis

Improved modelling of mountain snowpacks with spatially distributed precipitation bias correction derived from historical reanalysis Manon von Kaenel and Steven A. Margulis The Cryosphere, 19, 3309–3327, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3309-2025, 2025 Accurate snow water equivalent (SWE) estimates are crucial for water management in snowmelt-dependent regions, but bias and uncertainty in precipitation data make this challenging. Here, we leverage insights from a historical SWE data product to correct these biases and yield more accurate SWE estimates and streamflow predictions. Incorporating snow depth observations further boosts accuracy. This study demonstrates an effective method to downscale and bias-correct global mountain precipitation.

Loss of accumulation zone exposes dark ice and drives increased ablation at Weißseespitze, Austria

Loss of accumulation zone exposes dark ice and drives increased ablation at Weißseespitze, Austria Lea Hartl, Federico Covi, Martin Stocker-Waldhuber, Anna Baldo, Davide Fugazza, Biagio Di Mauro, and Kathrin Naegeli The Cryosphere, 19, 3329–3353, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3329-2025, 2025 Glacier albedo determines how much solar radiation is absorbed by the glacier surface and is a key driver of glacier melt. Alpine glaciers are losing their snow and firn cover, and the underlying darker ice is becoming exposed. This means that more solar radiation is absorbed by the ice, which leads to increased melt. To quantify these processes, we explore data from a high-elevation, on-ice weather station that measures albedo and combine this information with satellite imagery.

Identification of 320 000-year-old blue ice at the surface of the Elephant Moraine region, East Antarctica

Identification of 320 000-year-old blue ice at the surface of the Elephant Moraine region, East Antarctica Giyoon Lee, Jinho Ahn, Hyeontae Ju, Ikumi Oyabu, Florian Ritterbusch, Songyi Kim, Jangil Moon, Joohan Lee, Yeongcheol Han, Soon Do Hur, Kenji Kawamura, Zheng-Tian Lu, Wei Jiang, and Guo-Min Yang The Cryosphere, 19, 3295–3308, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3295-2025, 2025 This study investigated ancient ice in the Elephant Moraine, East Antarctica. Using geophysical surveys and chemical analyses, we found surface ice of around 320 000 years old and ice thickness ranging from 200 to 800 m. These findings suggest that the Elephant Moraine region may preserve ice over 1 million years old at depths of several hundred meters. Recovering such ice is a key goal in paleoclimate research to better understand the climate history of Earth.

Time moves fast when you are preparing for liftoff!

Video: 00:02:46

This video shows a timelapse of the launch preparations for Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite, which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission. MetOp-SG-A1 was launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in French Guiana, on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s heavy launcher and a key element of ESA’s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe’s citizens. Ariane 6 has three stages: two or four boosters, and a main and upper stage. For this flight, VA264, the rocket was used in its two-booster configuration.

Correcting errors in seasonal Arctic sea ice prediction of Earth system models with machine learning

Correcting errors in seasonal Arctic sea ice prediction of Earth system models with machine learning Zikang He, Yiguo Wang, Julien Brajard, Xidong Wang, and Zheqi Shen The Cryosphere, 19, 3279–3293, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3279-2025, 2025 Declining Arctic sea ice presents both risks and opportunities for ecosystems, communities, and economic activities. To address prediction errors in dynamical models, we apply machine learning for error correction during prediction (online) or post-processing (offline). Our results show that both methods enhance sea ice predictions, particularly from September to January, with offline corrections outperforming online corrections.

Seasonality and scenario dependence of rapid Arctic sea ice loss events in CMIP6 simulations

Seasonality and scenario dependence of rapid Arctic sea ice loss events in CMIP6 simulations Annelies Sticker, François Massonnet, Thierry Fichefet, Patricia DeRepentigny, Alexandra Jahn, David Docquier, Christopher Wyburn-Powell, Daphne Quint, Erica Shivers, and Makayla Ortiz The Cryosphere, 19, 3259–3277, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3259-2025, 2025 Our study analyzes rapid ice loss events (RILEs) in the Arctic, which are significant reductions in sea ice extent. RILEs are expected throughout the year, varying in frequency and duration with the seasons. Our research gives a year-round analysis of their characteristics in climate models and suggests that summer RILEs could begin before the middle of the century. Understanding these events is crucial as they can have profound impacts on the Arctic environment.

ESA data records help underpin climate change report

According to the newly released 35th State of the Climate report, 2024 saw record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global land and ocean temperatures, sea levels, and ocean heat content. Glaciers also suffered their largest annual ice loss on record. Data records from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative helped underpin these findings.

Brief communication: Representation of heat conduction into ice in marine ice shelf melt modelling

Brief communication: Representation of heat conduction into ice in marine ice shelf melt modelling Jonathan Wiskandt and Nicolas C. Jourdain The Cryosphere, 19, 3253–3258, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3253-2025, 2025 In ocean models, submarine melt of ice shelves is parameterized based on the heat budget at the ice–ocean interface. The heat budget includes the ocean heat transport, the heat conducted into the ice, and the heat available for melting. Here we compare three different approaches to estimating the heat conduction into the ice. We show that the most used approximation is not the most accurate one: it overestimates the melt by up to 25 % compared to the more accurate approximations.

Modeling mixing and melting in laminar seawater intrusions under grounded ice

Modeling mixing and melting in laminar seawater intrusions under grounded ice Madeline S. Mamer, Alexander A. Robel, Chris C. K. Lai, Earle Wilson, and Peter Washam The Cryosphere, 19, 3227–3251, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3227-2025, 2025 In this work, we simulate estuary-like seawater intrusions into the subglacial hydrologic system for marine outlet glaciers. We find the largest controls on seawater intrusion are the subglacial space geometry and meltwater discharge velocity. Further, we highlight the importance of extending ocean-forced ice loss to grounded portions of the ice sheet, which is currently not represented in models coupling ice sheets to ocean dynamics.

Carbon drawdown by algal blooms during Antarctic Cold Reversal from sedimentary ancient DNA

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 25 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01761-w

Trump’s Cuts May Spell the End for America’s Only Antarctic Research Ship

The decommissioning would leave the United States with no icebreaker to study the southern seas and cede scientific leadership to rival countries like China.

Wind and topography underlie correlation between seasonal snowpack, mountain glaciers, and late-summer streamflow

Wind and topography underlie correlation between seasonal snowpack, mountain glaciers, and late-summer streamflow Elijah N. Boardman, Andrew G. Fountain, Joseph W. Boardman, Thomas H. Painter, Evan W. Burgess, Laura Wilson, and Adrian A. Harpold The Cryosphere, 19, 3193–3225, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3193-2025, 2025 Watersheds on the downwind side of a mountain range have deeper seasonal snow and more abundant glaciers due to topographic controls that favor wind drifting. Despite receiving less total snow, these drift-prone watersheds produce relatively more late-summer streamflow due to a combination of slow-melting snow drifts and mass loss from glaciers (and other perennial snow/ice features).

Influence of snow spatial variability on cosmic ray neutron snow water equivalent (SWE): case study in a northern prairie

Influence of snow spatial variability on cosmic ray neutron snow water equivalent (SWE): case study in a northern prairie Haejo Kim, Eric Sproles, and Samuel E. Tuttle The Cryosphere, 19, 3177–3191, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3177-2025, 2025 Monitoring of a shallow and highly variable snowpack's water content has been shown to be reliable with cosmic ray neutron sensing (CRNS). After hundreds of simulations, we show a CRNS instrument is best placed near areas of low snow accumulation that are near regions of high snow accumulation for an accurate estimate of the prairie snowpack's water content. The snow water equivalent from a CRNS was 2 to 5 times more likely to be representative of the prairie snow, compared to traditional snow monitoring methods.

How NASA's Artemis II lunar science operations will inform future missions

NASA's Artemis II mission, set to send four astronauts on a nearly 10-day mission around the moon and back, will advance the agency's goal to land astronauts at the moon's south polar region and will help set the stage for future crewed Mars missions.

Advancing interpretation of incoherent scattering in ice-penetrating radar data used for ice core site selection

Advancing interpretation of incoherent scattering in ice-penetrating radar data used for ice core site selection Ellen Lucinda Mutter and Nicholas Holschuh The Cryosphere, 19, 3159–3176, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3159-2025, 2025 Ice-penetrating radar is a technology that lets us see through ice sheets, capturing their organized, layered structure. But near the ice bottom, radar data are much more complicated, with signals that are disordered and often ignored. Here, we work to better understand these complex signals by comparing radar data to measurements of ice structure from ice cores. We show these signals reflect structural changes in the ice itself and can inform our search for ancient climate records.

Factors influencing lake surface water temperature variability in West Greenland and the role of the ice sheet

Factors influencing lake surface water temperature variability in West Greenland and the role of the ice sheet Laura Carrea, Christopher J. Merchant, Richard I. Woolway, and Niall McCarroll The Cryosphere, 19, 3139–3158, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3139-2025, 2025 Lakes in Greenland serve as a crucial sentinel of climate change. Satellites can be used to monitor water temperature and ice. Using 28 years of measurements from satellites, we conclude that lakes are overall warmer than previously thought. The lakes connected to the ice sheet are cooler than the rest because of cold glacial meltwater inflow. Changes in water temperature can impact light availability, nutrient cycling, and oxygen levels that are crucial for the lake ecosystem and have an influence on the ice sheet.

Emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment

Nature, Published online: 20 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09349-5

How long tubes of mud could reveal how Antarctica is changing

How long tubes of mud - drilled out of the Antarctic seafloor - could reveal how the frozen continent is changing.

ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite adds power to forecasts

Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N)

Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) Clara R. Vives, Jørgen Bendtsen, Rasmus D. Dahms, Niels Daugbjerg, Kristina V. Larsen, and Minik T. Rosing The Cryosphere, 19, 3107–3121, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3107-2025, 2025 Glacial rock flour (GRF) from Greenlandic glaciers transports silicate and trace metals into fjords, influencing marine biogeochemistry. Trace metal concentrations are high in riverine and low-salinity waters but decrease sharply as salinity increases, challenging estimates based on freshwater input alone. Silicate rises due to GRF weathering but declines in fjords due to mixing. Uranium and molybdenum originate from the ocean, highlighting complex trace metal and nutrient dynamics.

Leveraging snow probe data, lidar, and machine learning for snow depth estimation in complex-terrain environments

Leveraging snow probe data, lidar, and machine learning for snow depth estimation in complex-terrain environments Dane Liljestrand, Ryan Johnson, Bethany Neilson, Patrick Strong, and Elizabeth Cotter The Cryosphere, 19, 3123–3138, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3123-2025, 2025 This work introduces a model specifically designed for high-resolution snow depth estimation, leveraging in situ snow observations and snow-off lidar terrain features to provide an accessible and cost-effective method for snowpack modeling in regions lacking high-quality data products or collection networks. This work demonstrates that reliable basin-scale snow depth estimates can be achieved in difficult environments with very few observations and low institutional costs.

Greenland’s glacial runoff is powering explosions of ocean life

NASA-backed simulations reveal that meltwater from Greenland’s Jakobshavn Glacier lifts deep-ocean nutrients to the surface, sparking large summer blooms of phytoplankton that feed the Arctic food web.

Protect Antarctica — or risk accelerating planetary meltdown

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02618-3

A record-breaking antenna just deployed in space. Here’s what it will see

NASA and ISRO s NISAR satellite has just reached a major milestone: the successful deployment of its enormous 39-foot antenna reflector in orbit. Folded up like an umbrella during launch, the reflector is now fully extended and ready to support NISAR s groundbreaking radar systems. This record-breaking satellite will monitor everything from shifting ice sheets and glaciers to the subtle movement of land caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides.

Don’t blame the algorithm: Polarization may be inherent in social media

In simulations, AI-generated users of stripped-down social media without content algorithms still split into polarized echo chambers

Seasonality in terminus ablation rates for the glaciers in Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)

Seasonality in terminus ablation rates for the glaciers in Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) Aman KC, Ellyn M. Enderlin, Dominik Fahrner, Twila Moon, and Dustin Carroll The Cryosphere, 19, 3089–3106, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3089-2025, 2025 The sum of ice flowing towards a glacier’s terminus and changes in the position of the terminus over time collectively makes up terminus ablation. We found that terminus ablation has more seasonal variability than previously concluded from flux-based estimates of ice discharge. The findings are of importance in understanding the timing and location of the freshwater input to the fjords and surrounding ocean basins affecting local and regional ecosystems and ocean properties.

Estimation of duration and its changes in Lagrangian observations relying on ice floes in the Arctic Ocean utilizing a sea ice motion product

Estimation of duration and its changes in Lagrangian observations relying on ice floes in the Arctic Ocean utilizing a sea ice motion product Fanyi Zhang, Ruibo Lei, Meng Qu, Na Li, Ying Chen, and Xiaoping Pang The Cryosphere, 19, 3065–3087, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3065-2025, 2025 We reconstructed sea ice drift trajectories and identified optimal deployment areas for Lagrangian observations in the central Arctic Ocean. The trajectories revealed a preference for ice advection towards the Transpolar Drift region over the Beaufort Gyre, with endpoints influenced by large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns. This study provides critical support for the planning and implementation of Lagrangian observations relying on ice floes in the central Arctic Ocean under changing environmental conditions.

MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5: from cleanroom to space

Video: 00:04:21

Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite – which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission –  has launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s heavy launcher and a key element of ESA’s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe’s citizens. Ariane 6 has three stages: two or four boosters, and a main and upper stage. For this flight, VA264, the rocket was used in its two-booster configuration.

Insights into supraglacial lake drainage dynamics: triangular fracture formation, reactivation and long-lasting englacial features

Insights into supraglacial lake drainage dynamics: triangular fracture formation, reactivation and long-lasting englacial features Angelika Humbert, Veit Helm, Ole Zeising, Niklas Neckel, Matthias H. Braun, Shfaqat Abbas Khan, Martin Rückamp, Holger Steeb, Julia Sohn, Matthias Bohnen, and Ralf Müller The Cryosphere, 19, 3009–3032, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3009-2025, 2025 We study the evolution of a massive lake on the Greenland Ice Sheet using satellite and airborne data and some modelling. The lake is emptying rapidly. Water flows to the glacier's base through cracks and triangular-shaped moulins that remain visible over the years. Some of them become reactivated. We find features inside the glacier that stem from drainage events with a width of even 1 km. These features are persistent over the years, although they are changing in shape.

Tracking the climate-driven shift in Antarctic plankton from space

Combining 25 years of space-based data with ocean sampling, scientists have uncovered a change in the microscopic organisms that underpin the Southern Ocean’s food chain and carbon storage.

Juneau Floods As Mendenhall Glacier Melts

The Mendenhall River in Alaska was at “major flood” stage as of Wednesday morning, with additional water expected from an overflowing glacial lake.

IXPE's 'heartbeat black hole' measurements challenge current theories

An international team of astronomers using NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer), has challenged our understanding of what happens to matter in the direct vicinity of a black hole.

Evacuations in Alaska after glacial melt raises fears of record flooding

Meltwater is escaping from a basin that is dammed by a glacier - prompting fears of a deluge in state capital Juneau.

Investigating the impact of reanalysis snow input on an observationally calibrated snow-on-sea-ice reconstruction

Investigating the impact of reanalysis snow input on an observationally calibrated snow-on-sea-ice reconstruction Alex Cabaj, Paul J. Kushner, and Alek A. Petty The Cryosphere, 19, 3033–3064, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3033-2025, 2025 The output of snow-on-sea-ice models is influenced by the choice of snowfall input used. We ran such a model with different snowfall inputs and calibrated it to observations, produced a new calibrated snow product, and regionally compared the model outputs to outputs from another snow-on-sea-ice model. The two models agree best on the seasonal cycle of snow in the central Arctic Ocean. Observational comparisons highlight ongoing challenges in estimating the depth and density of snow on Arctic sea ice.

MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 launch highlights

Video: 00:01:36

Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite – which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission –  has launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

Modelling cold firn evolution at Colle Gnifetti, Swiss/Italian Alps

Modelling cold firn evolution at Colle Gnifetti, Swiss/Italian Alps Marcus Gastaldello, Enrico Mattea, Martin Hoelzle, and Horst Machguth The Cryosphere, 19, 2983–3008, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2983-2025, 2025 Inside the highest glaciers of the Alps lies an invaluable archive of data revealing the Earth's historic climate. However, as the atmosphere warms due to climate change, so does the glaciers' internal temperature, threatening the future longevity of these records. Using our customised Python model, validated by on-site measurements, we show how a doubling in surface melt has caused a warming of 1.5 °C in the past 21 years and explore the challenges of modelling in complex mountainous terrain.

First MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5 launched

Ushering in a new era of weather and climate monitoring from polar orbit, the first in a new series of satellites, MetOp Second Generation, has been lofted into orbit aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. As part of this new satellite’s sophisticated instrument package is the new Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument, which is designed to deliver critical data on air pollutants, ozone and climate-related gases.

Ariane 6: preparing flight VA264 for liftoff

Video: 00:05:14

MetOp-SG-A1 travelled onboard the Canopée ship. Our teams at the European spaceport in French Guiana have been quite busy making sure both the rocket and the payloads are ready for flight VA264.

Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite – which hosts Copernicus Sentinel-5 as part of its instrument package – is set for liftoff on an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on August 2025.

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

MetOp-SG-A1, carries six instruments: a next-generation infrared atmospheric sounder, a microwave sounder, a multispectral imaging radiometer, a novel multiviewing, multichannel, multipolarisation imager, a radio occultation sounder (which is also embarked on the MetOp-SG-B satellites), and the European Commission’s Copernicus Sentinel-5 spectrometer.

Building on the success of the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite, the new Copernicus Sentinel-5 introduces an advanced imaging spectrometer. The first of these cutting-edge instruments, Sentinel-5A, is integrated into MetOp-SG-A1, and will work in synergy with other onboard instruments.

The missions will launch on an Ariane 6 with two boosters. Ariane 6 is Europe’s heavy launcher and a key element of ESA’s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe’s citizens. Its modular and versatile design allows it to launch all missions from low-Earth orbit into deep space. Standing over 60 metres tall, Ariane 6 can weigh almost 900 tonnes when launched with a full payload.

Bias in modeled Greenland Ice Sheet melt revealed by ASCAT

Bias in modeled Greenland Ice Sheet melt revealed by ASCAT Anna Puggaard, Nicolaj Hansen, Ruth Mottram, Thomas Nagler, Stefan Scheiblauer, Sebastian B. Simonsen, Louise S. Sørensen, Jan Wuite, and Anne M. Solgaard The Cryosphere, 19, 2963–2981, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2963-2025, 2025 Regional climate models are currently the only source for assessing the melt volume of the Greenland Ice Sheet on a global scale. This study compares the modeled melt volume with observations from weather stations and melt extent observed from the Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) to assess the performance of the models. It highlights the importance of critically evaluating model outputs with high-quality satellite measurements to improve the understanding of variability among models.

Charges dropped against teen pilot detained in Antarctica

Ethan Guo must leave the island and pay $30,000 dollars to charity for illegally landing on Chilean territory, a judge says.

Behind the scenes with MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5

Video: 00:01:45

Experience the preparation of the MetOp-SG-A1 satellite, hosting Copernicus Sentinel-5, scheduled for liftoff on an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 13 August 2025 at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time). This timelapse video captures key stages from the encapsulation within the Ariane 6 fairing to the installation in the launch tower.

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

British man who perished in Antarctic glacier found 65 years later

His brother tells BBC News that he had lost hope he would ever be found.

Scientists just measured how fast glaciers carve the Earth

Scientists used machine learning to reveal how glaciers erode the land at varying speeds, shaped by climate, geology, and heat. The findings help guide global planning from environmental management to nuclear waste storage.

332 colossal canyons just revealed beneath Antarctica’s ice

Deep beneath the Antarctic seas lies a hidden network of 332 colossal submarine canyons, some plunging over 4,000 meters, revealed in unprecedented detail by new high-resolution mapping. These underwater valleys, shaped by glacial forces and powerful sediment flows, play a vital role in transporting nutrients, driving ocean currents, and influencing global climate. Striking differences between East and West Antarctica’s canyon systems offer clues to the continent’s ancient ice history, while also exposing vulnerabilities as warm waters carve away at protective ice shelves.

Perito Moreno Glacier Is Thinning Faster Than Expected, Study Shows

After holding steady for decades, the beloved Perito Moreno has thinned considerably since 2019, scientists said.

Wall Street analyst Dan Ives brings his out-of-the-box fashion style to a new clothing line

The Wedbush Securities' global head of technology research on Thursday launches a unisex fashion line with brand Snow Milk.

New radar altimetry datasets of Greenland and Antarctic surface elevation, 1991–2012

New radar altimetry datasets of Greenland and Antarctic surface elevation, 1991–2012 Maya Raghunath Suryawanshi, Malcolm McMillan, Jennifer Maddalena, Fanny Piras, Jérémie Aublanc, Jean-Alexis Daguzé, Clara Grau, and Qi Huang The Cryosphere, 19, 2855–2880, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2855-2025, 2025 Increasing melting rates of the polar ice sheets are contributing more and more to sea level rise. Due to the remoteness and expanse of ice sheets, these changes are mainly observed using satellites. However, the accuracy of these measurements depends on the processing of these datasets. Here we use advanced algorithms to provide improved historical ice sheet elevation measurements, derived from satellite altimeters flying between 1991 and 2012, which will benefit cryospheric applications.

Radar-equivalent snowpack: reducing the number of snow layers while retaining their microwave properties and bulk snow mass

Radar-equivalent snowpack: reducing the number of snow layers while retaining their microwave properties and bulk snow mass Julien Meloche, Nicolas R. Leroux, Benoit Montpetit, Vincent Vionnet, and Chris Derksen The Cryosphere, 19, 2949–2962, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2949-2025, 2025 Measuring snow mass from radar measurements is possible with information on snow and a radar model to link the measurements to snow. A key variable in a retrieval is the number of snow layers, with more layers yielding richer information but at increased computational cost. Here, we show the capabilities of a new method for simplifying a complex snowpack while preserving the scattering behavior of the snowpack and conserving its mass.

Globally recognized island is losing its trademark glaciers

Nature, Published online: 07 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02473-2

New Zealand Air Force Mounts Dangerous Rescue Mission in Antarctica

Three staff members from the National Science Foundation were evacuated from a U.S. research base after a medical emergency. The mission is one of the most challenging for the air force.

Evaluating sensitivity of optical snow grain size retrievals to radiative transfer models, shape parameters, and inversion techniques

Evaluating sensitivity of optical snow grain size retrievals to radiative transfer models, shape parameters, and inversion techniques James W. Dillon, Christopher P. Donahue, Evan N. Schehrer, and Kevin D. Hammonds The Cryosphere, 19, 2913–2933, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2913-2025, 2025 The optical grain size of snow controls albedo, playing a key role in Earth's energy balance. This parameter varies substantially in time and space; thus, accurate estimates are vital. Reflectance measurements can be used to map grain size, although results differ considerably, depending on the algorithm and model used during retrieval. We perform a novel laboratory comparison to determine the optimal model, shape parameters, and retrieval algorithm for accurately estimating grain size.

Impact of glacial isostatic adjustment on zones of potential grounding line persistence in the Ross Sea Embayment (Antarctica) since the Last Glacial Maximum

Impact of glacial isostatic adjustment on zones of potential grounding line persistence in the Ross Sea Embayment (Antarctica) since the Last Glacial Maximum Samuel T. Kodama, Tamara Pico, Alexander A. Robel, John Erich Christian, Natalya Gomez, Casey Vigilia, Evelyn Powell, Jessica Gagliardi, Slawek Tulaczyk, and Terrence Blackburn The Cryosphere, 19, 2935–2948, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2935-2025, 2025 We predicted how sea level changed in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) due to glacial isostatic adjustment, or solid Earth ice sheet interactions, over the last deglaciation (20 000 years ago to present) and calculated how these changes in bathymetry impacted ice stream stability. Glacial isostatic adjustment shifts stability from where ice reached its maximum 20 000 years ago, at the continental shelf edge, to the modern grounding line today, reinforcing ice-age climate endmembers.

Meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet and its water isotope distribution in Dickson Fjord, East Greenland

Meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet and its water isotope distribution in Dickson Fjord, East Greenland Fleur Rooijakkers, Ebbe Poulsen, Eugenio Ruiz-Castillo, and Søren Rysgaard The Cryosphere, 19, 2881–2894, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2881-2025, 2025 Glacier melting contributes to global sea level rise, largely due to interactions between the ocean and glacier fronts. Understanding these interactions is crucial. This study explores these processes in a fjord in understudied East Greenland, using a drone to collect data near the glacier. Based on our measurements, we hypothesise that glacier meltwater refreezes in cold Polar Water, forming ice crystals that float to the surface and melt when exposed to warmer ocean temperatures.

Assimilation of L-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) snow depth retrievals for improved snowpack quantification

Assimilation of L-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) snow depth retrievals for improved snowpack quantification Prabhakar Shrestha and Ana P. Barros The Cryosphere, 19, 2895–2911, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2895-2025, 2025 The study presents the first assimilation of snow depth obtained from repeat pass airborne L-band synthetic aperture radar with a snow hydrology model. The assimilation of snow depth was found to be equivalent to the downscaling of precipitation forcing with a bias correction, which improved the snowpack simulation compared to ground-based observations.

Deglaciation drove seawater infiltration and slowed submarine groundwater discharge

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 06 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01750-z

Elevated shallow water salinity in the deglacial Indian Ocean was sourced from the deep

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 06 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01756-7

Sexual harassment is rife at US Antarctic research bases, fresh survey finds

Nature, Published online: 06 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02484-z

Enhanced basal melting in winter and spring: seasonal ice–ocean interactions at the Ekström Ice Shelf, East Antarctica

Enhanced basal melting in winter and spring: seasonal ice–ocean interactions at the Ekström Ice Shelf, East Antarctica Ole Zeising, Tore Hattermann, Lars Kaleschke, Sophie Berger, Olaf Boebel, Reinhard Drews, M. Reza Ershadi, Tanja Fromm, Frank Pattyn, Daniel Steinhage, and Olaf Eisen The Cryosphere, 19, 2837–2854, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2837-2025, 2025 Basal melting of ice shelves impacts the mass loss of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. This study focuses on the Ekström Ice Shelf in East Antarctica, using multiyear data from an autonomous radar system. Results show a surprising seasonal pattern of high melt rates in winter and spring. The seasonalities of sea-ice growth and ocean density indicate that, in winter, dense water enhances plume activity and melt rates. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving future mass balance projections.

Insights into microphysical and optical properties of typical mineral dust within urban snowpack via wet and dry deposition in Changchun, northeastern China

Insights into microphysical and optical properties of typical mineral dust within urban snowpack via wet and dry deposition in Changchun, northeastern China Tenglong Shi, Jiayao Wang, Daizhou Zhang, Jiecan Cui, Zihang Wang, Yue Zhou, Wei Pu, Yang Bai, Zhigang Han, Meng Liu, Yanbiao Liu, Hongbin Xie, Minghui Yang, Ying Li, Meng Gao, and Xin Wang The Cryosphere, 19, 2821–2835, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2821-2025, 2025 This study examines the properties of dust in snow in Changchun, China, using advanced technology to analyze its size, shape, and light absorption. We found that dust composition affects how much heat is absorbed by snow, with certain minerals, such as hematite, making snowmelt faster. Our research highlights the importance of creating clear standards for classifying dust, which could improve climate models and field observations. This work helps better understand dust's role in climate change.

A random-forest-derived 35-year snow phenology record reveals climate trends in the Yukon River Basin

A random-forest-derived 35-year snow phenology record reveals climate trends in the Yukon River Basin Caleb G. Pan, Kristofer Lasko, Sean P. Griffin, John S. Kimball, Jinyang Du, Tate G. Meehan, and Peter B. Kirchner The Cryosphere, 19, 2797–2819, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2797-2025, 2025 This study examines 35 years of snow cover changes in Alaska’s Yukon River Basin using machine learning to track snowmelt timing and disappearance. Results show snow is melting earlier and disappearing faster due to rising temperatures, highlighting the effects of climate change on water resources, ecosystems, and communities. The findings improve understanding of snow dynamics and provide critical insights for addressing climate-driven challenges in the region.

Stable Arctic dense water formation

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02404-z

Sediment transport capacity response to variations in water discharge in pressurized subglacial channels

Sediment transport capacity response to variations in water discharge in pressurized subglacial channels Ian Delaney, Andrew J. Tedstone, Mauro A. Werder, and Daniel Farinotti The Cryosphere, 19, 2779–2795, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2779-2025, 2025 Sediment transport capacity depends on water velocity and channel width. In rivers, water discharge changes affect flow depth, width, and velocity. Yet, under glaciers, discharge variations alter velocity more than channel shape. Due to these differences, this study shows that sediment transport capacity under glaciers varies widely and peaks before water flow, creating a complex relationship. Understanding these dynamics helps interpret sediment discharge from glaciers in different climates.

Brief communication: Stream microbes preferentially respire young carbon within the ancient glacier dissolved organic carbon pool

Brief communication: Stream microbes preferentially respire young carbon within the ancient glacier dissolved organic carbon pool Amy D. Holt, Jason B. Fellman, Anne M. Kellerman, Eran Hood, Samantha H. Bosman, Amy M. McKenna, Jeffery P. Chanton, and Robert G. M. Spencer The Cryosphere, 19, 2769–2777, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2769-2025, 2025 Glacier runoff is a source of old bioavailable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to downstream ecosystems. The DOC pool is composed of material of various origins, chemical compositions, ages, and levels of bioavailability. Using bioincubation experiments, we show that glacier DOC respiration is driven by a young source, rather than by ancient material which comprises the majority of the glacier carbon pool. This young bioavailable fraction could currently be a critical carbon subsidy for recipient food webs. 

Watch: Australians play in snowy winter wonderland

Parts of New South Wales were blanketed with the heaviest snow in 20 years.

Melting glaciers threaten to wipe out European villages - is the steep cost to protect them worth it?

Switzerland spends almost $500m a year on protective structures. Is it worth it - or, as some suggest, should people move away from the mountain villages at risk?

Impact of modulating surface heat flux through sea ice leads on Arctic sea ice in EC-Earth3 in different climates

Impact of modulating surface heat flux through sea ice leads on Arctic sea ice in EC-Earth3 in different climates Tian Tian, Richard Davy, Leandro Ponsoni, and Shuting Yang The Cryosphere, 19, 2751–2768, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2751-2025, 2025 We introduced a modulating factor to the surface heat flux in the EC-Earth3 model to address the lack of parameterization for turbulent exchange over sea ice leads and correct the bias in Arctic sea ice. Three pairwise experiments showed that the amplified heat flux effectively reduces the overestimated sea ice, especially during cold periods, thereby improving agreement with observed and reanalysis data for sea ice area, volume, and ice edge, particularly in the North Atlantic sector.

Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 01 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x

Numerical study of the error sources in the experimental estimation of thermal diffusivity: an application to debris-covered glaciers

Numerical study of the error sources in the experimental estimation of thermal diffusivity: an application to debris-covered glaciers Calvin Beck and Lindsey Nicholson The Cryosphere, 19, 2715–2731, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2715-2025, 2025 A glacier's debris cover strongly modifies its mass balance in contrast to a clean-ice glacier. A key parameter for calculating sub-debris melt is the thermal diffusivity of the debris layer. Conway and Rasmussen (2000) present a method to estimate this value based on simple heat diffusion principles. Our analysis shows that the selected temporal and spatial sampling intervals affect the estimated value of thermal diffusivity, resulting in glacier melt being systematically underestimated.

Dynamic identification of snow phenology in the Northern Hemisphere

Dynamic identification of snow phenology in the Northern Hemisphere Le Wang, Xin Miao, Xinyun Hu, Yizhuo Li, Bo Qiu, Jun Ge, and Weidong Guo The Cryosphere, 19, 2733–2750, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2733-2025, 2025 Snow phenology is a crucial indicator for assessing seasonal changes in snow. In this work, we find that snow phenology is significantly impacted by the datasets and methods used, and current methods often overlook the spatial and temporal variability in snow across the Northern Hemisphere. To address this, we develop a dynamic-threshold method, which contributes to better representing the seasonal changes in snow cover across the Northern Hemisphere, especially on the Tibetan Plateau.

Beavers are poised to invade and radically remake the Arctic

A warming climate is enabling rodents to move north

Webb reveals more than one star contributes to the irregular shape of planetary nebula NGC 6072

Since the discovery of planetary nebulae in the late 1700s, astronomers have learned that these expanding shells of glowing gas expelled by low-intermediate mass stars late in their lives can come in all shapes and sizes. Most planetary nebulae present as circular, elliptical, or bi-polar, but some stray from the norm, as seen in new high-resolution images of the planetary nebula NGC 6072 by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

India and US set for launch of 'first-of-its-kind' satellite

Nasa-Isro joint mission Nisar will record the minutest of changes in the land, sea or ice sheets.

Greenland subglacial flood bursts through ice sheet surface

Using data from several Earth-observing satellites, including ESA’s CryoSat and the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 missions, scientists have discovered that a huge flood beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet surged upwards with such force that it fractured the ice sheet, resulting in a vast quantity of meltwater bursting through the ice surface.

Cloud-motion data identify changes in atmospheric circulation

Nature, Published online: 30 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02377-1

Outburst of a subglacial flood from the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 30 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01746-9

Sea level rise contribution from Ryder Glacier in northern Greenland varies by an order of magnitude by 2300 depending on future emissions

Sea level rise contribution from Ryder Glacier in northern Greenland varies by an order of magnitude by 2300 depending on future emissions Felicity A. Holmes, Jamie Barnett, Henning Åkesson, Mathieu Morlighem, Johan Nilsson, Nina Kirchner, and Martin Jakobsson The Cryosphere, 19, 2695–2714, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2695-2025, 2025 Northern Greenland contains some of the ice sheet's last remaining glaciers with floating ice tongues. One of these is Ryder Glacier, which has been relatively stable in recent decades, in contrast to nearby glaciers. Here, we use a computer model to simulate Ryder Glacier until 2300 under both a low- and a high-emissions scenario. Very high levels of surface melt under a high-emissions future lead to a sea level rise contribution that is an order of magnitude higher than under a low-emissions future.

NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker

Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists

MetOp-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 media briefing

Video: 01:00:00

Watch the replay of the MetOp-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 pre-launch media briefing. This session provides information about these two missions. Speakers include:

• Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA
• Phil Evans, Director-General at Eumetsat
• Simon Brown, Managing Director for Products and Services at the UK Met Office

Following on from the first-generation MetOp series of satellites, MetOp-SG-A1 is the first of Europe’s Second Generation weather satellites, which not only ensure the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offer enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission. As part of its instrument package, MetOp-SG-A1 hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 advanced imaging spectrometer, which delivers daily global data on key air pollutants, essential climate variables, and stratospheric ozone.

MetOp-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 are scheduled for liftoff on 13 August 2025 CEST aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Glacier inventories reveal an acceleration of Heard Island glacier loss over recent decades

Glacier inventories reveal an acceleration of Heard Island glacier loss over recent decades Levan G. Tielidze, Andrew N. Mackintosh, and Weilin Yang The Cryosphere, 19, 2677–2694, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2677-2025, 2025 Heard Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its outstanding physical and biological features which are being affected by significant ongoing climatic changes. As one of the only sub-Antarctic islands mostly free of introduced species, its largely undisturbed ecosystems are at risk from the impact of glacier retreat. This glacier inventory will help in designing effective conservation strategies and managing protected areas to ensure the preservation of the biodiversity they support.

‘Wind droughts’ driven by climate change put green power at risk

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02330-2

Satellites just revealed a hidden global water crisis—and it’s worse than melting ice

For over two decades, satellites have quietly documented a major crisis unfolding beneath our feet: Earth's continents are drying out at unprecedented rates. Fueled by climate change, groundwater overuse, and extreme drought, this trend has carved out four massive "mega-drying" regions across the northern hemisphere, threatening freshwater supplies for billions. Groundwater loss alone now contributes more to sea level rise than melting ice sheets, and unless urgent global water policies are enacted, we could face a catastrophic freshwater bankruptcy.

Antarctic phytoplankton communities restructure under shifting sea-ice regimes

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 25 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02379-x

Toxic Algae in Whale Poop Warns of Warming Seas in the Alaskan Arctic

Learn more about the nearly two decades worth of research showing how the toxins found in bowhead whale poop are a climate change warning bell.

Mars glaciers found to be over 80% pure ice, study shows

On the slopes of Martian mountains and craters clings what appears to be flowing honey, coated in dust and frozen in time. In reality, these features are incredibly slow-moving glaciers, and their contents were once thought to be mostly rock enveloped in some ice.

Thermal state of permafrost in the Central Andes (27–34° S)

Thermal state of permafrost in the Central Andes (27–34° S) Cassandra E. M. Koenig, Christin Hilbich, Christian Hauck, Lukas U. Arenson, and Pablo Wainstein The Cryosphere, 19, 2653–2676, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2653-2025, 2025 This study presents the first regional compilation of borehole temperature data from high-altitude permafrost sites in the Andes, providing a baseline of ground thermal conditions. Data from 53 boreholes show thermal characteristics similar to other mountain permafrost areas, but uniquely shaped by Andean topo-climatic conditions. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and is a notable collaboration between industry, academia, and regulators in advancing climate change research.

Snowless winter? Arctic field team finds flowers and meltwater instead

Scientists in Svalbard were shocked to find rain and greenery instead of snow during Arctic winter fieldwork. The event highlights not just warming—but a full seasonal shift with major consequences for ecosystems, climate feedback, and research feasibility.

New Map Reveals Antarctica’s Gigantic Submarine Canyons — Some Deeper Than 13,000 Feet

Learn about Antarctica’s hidden submarine canyons and how they play an important role in global climate.

Antarctic isolation causes temporary gray matter loss with lingering thalamic changes

Brain researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have detailed temporary reductions in gray matter following prolonged isolation in Antarctica. Structural losses were most apparent in regions governing memory and spatial processing. Longer sleep durations and higher sleep efficiency corresponded with smaller changes in brain volume.

What radar found beneath Antarctica could slow ice melt and rising seas

Ancient river landscapes buried beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet have been uncovered by radar, revealing vast, flat surfaces formed over 80 million years ago before Antarctica froze. These hidden features, stretching across 3,500 kilometers, are now acting as natural brakes on glacier flow, potentially moderating current ice loss. Their discovery adds a new piece to the puzzle of Earth's climate history and could help scientists better forecast how this enormous ice sheet will behave as the planet warms.

Volumetric evolution of supraglacial lakes in southwestern Greenland using ICESat-2 and Sentinel-2

Volumetric evolution of supraglacial lakes in southwestern Greenland using ICESat-2 and Sentinel-2 Tiantian Feng, Xinyu Ma, and Xiaomin Liu The Cryosphere, 19, 2635–2652, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2635-2025, 2025 During the melting season, substantial quantities of surface meltwater converge in topographically depressed regions, forming supraglacial lakes (SGLs). We extract SGL area and profile depth using remote sensing data and then invert the depth of entire SGLs based on the machine learning method. By applying the above-mentioned methods, we capture the volumetric evolution of SGLs throughout the entire melt season of 2022 in southwestern Greenland.

China is boosting its Antarctic research. What does that mean for the world?

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02157-x

The impact of ice structures and ocean warming in Milne Fiord

The impact of ice structures and ocean warming in Milne Fiord Jérémie Bonneau, Bernard E. Laval, Derek Mueller, Yulia Antropova, and Andrew K. Hamilton The Cryosphere, 19, 2615–2633, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2615-2025, 2025 Arctic glaciers and ice shelves are retreating due to warmer oceans, but the link between ocean warming and ice loss is complex. We used a numerical model to study these processes in Milne Fiord, a unique site with an ice shelf and a tidewater glacier. Our results show that submarine melting is an important thinning mechanism and that glacier retreat will continue for decades. This research highlights the ongoing and future changes in Arctic ice structures.

Multi-annual patterns of rapidly draining supraglacial lakes in Northeast Greenland

Multi-annual patterns of rapidly draining supraglacial lakes in Northeast Greenland Katrina Lutz, Ilaria Tabone, Angelika Humbert, and Matthias Braun The Cryosphere, 19, 2601–2614, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2601-2025, 2025 Supraglacial lakes develop from meltwater collecting on the surface of glaciers. These lakes can drain rapidly, discharging meltwater to the glacier bed. In this study, we assess the spatial and temporal distribution of rapid drainages in Northeast Greenland using optical satellite images. After comparing rapid drainage occurrence with several environmental and geophysical parameters, little indication of the influencing conditions for a rapid drainage was found.

EU lowers price cap for Russian crude under new sanctions package

EU policymakers on Friday signaled that the price at which non-G7 countries could purchase Russian crude and access G7 logistics services has been lowered.

Calibrating calving parameterizations using graph neural network emulators: application to Helheim Glacier, East Greenland

Calibrating calving parameterizations using graph neural network emulators: application to Helheim Glacier, East Greenland Younghyun Koo, Gong Cheng, Mathieu Morlighem, and Maryam Rahnemoonfar The Cryosphere, 19, 2583–2599, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2583-2025, 2025 Calving, the breaking of ice bodies from the terminus of a glacier, plays an important role in the mass losses of Greenland ice sheets. However, calving parameters have been poorly understood because of the intensive computational demands of traditional numerical models. To address this issue and find the optimal calving parameter that best represents real observations, we develop deep-learning emulators based on graph neural network architectures.

Asia’s haze affects ice and weather on the Frozen Continent

Nature, Published online: 18 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02226-1

Detection and reconstruction of rock glacier kinematics over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery

Detection and reconstruction of rock glacier kinematics over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery Diego Cusicanqui, Pascal Lacroix, Xavier Bodin, Benjamin Aubrey Robson, Andreas Kääb, and Shelley MacDonell The Cryosphere, 19, 2559–2581, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2559-2025, 2025 This study presents a robust methodological approach to detect and analyse rock glacier kinematics using Landsat 7/Landsat 8 imagery. In the semiarid Andes, 382 landforms were monitored, showing an average velocity of 0.37 ± 0.07 m yr⁻¹ over 24 years, with rock glaciers moving 23 % faster. Results demonstrate the feasibility of using medium-resolution optical imagery, combined with radar interferometry, to monitor rock glacier kinematics with widely available satellite datasets.

Frozen for 12,000 years, this Alpine ice core captures the rise of civilization

An ancient glacier high in the French Alps has revealed the oldest known ice in Western Europe—dating back over 12,000 years to the last Ice Age. This frozen archive, meticulously analyzed by scientists, captures a complete chemical and atmospheric record spanning humanity’s transition from hunter-gatherers to modern industry. The core contains stories of erupting volcanoes, changing forests, Saharan dust storms, and even economic impacts across history. It offers a rare glimpse into both natural climate transitions and human influence on the atmosphere, holding vital clues for understanding past and future climate change.

These Ancient Dogs Have Pulled Sleds in Greenland for Nearly 1,000 Years

Meet the Qimmit, Greenand's genetically diverse sled dogs that have been long-time Artic companions.

Dandelion-like ‘Welsh dodo’ plant continues to hold on in secret location

Thought extinct in wild until three plants were found in 2002, Snowdonia hawkweed numbers have risen to six

One of the rarest plants in the world is growing at a secret location on the edge of Eryri in north Wales.

The Snowdonia hawkweed (Hieracium snowdoniense) is a small plant, barely reaching 30cm high, but with a brilliant golden yellow inflorescence that looks a bit like a dandelion, which it is closely related to. The Snowdonia hawkweed was first discovered only in 1880 at a remote hillside near Bethesda on the edge of Eryri, or Snowdonia, but in about 1950 the plant vanished, feared extinct after sheep grazed heavily in the area. And so the plant earned the unenviable title of the Welsh dodo.

Long-range hyperbolic polaritons on a non-hyperbolic crystal surface

Nature, Published online: 16 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09288-1

How a bipolar diagnosis benefits my research

Nature, Published online: 16 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01848-9

NASA's IXPE imager reveals mysteries of rare pulsar

An international team of astronomers has uncovered new evidence to explain how pulsing remnants of exploded stars interact with surrounding matter deep in the cosmos, using observations from NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) and other telescopes.

Astronomers discover an unusual long-period radio transient

An international team of astronomers report the discovery of a long-period radio transient, which is unusually circularly polarized and showcases an accelerating spin period. The finding of the new transient, designated CHIME J1634+44, was detailed in a paper published July 7 on the pre-print server arXiv.

Calibrated sea level contribution from the Amundsen Sea sector, West Antarctica, under RCP8.5 and Paris 2C scenarios

Calibrated sea level contribution from the Amundsen Sea sector, West Antarctica, under RCP8.5 and Paris 2C scenarios Sebastian H. R. Rosier, G. Hilmar Gudmundsson, Adrian Jenkins, and Kaitlin A. Naughten The Cryosphere, 19, 2527–2557, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2527-2025, 2025 Glaciers in the Amundsen Sea region of Antarctica have been retreating and losing mass, but their future contribution to global sea level rise remains highly uncertain. We use an ice sheet model and uncertainty quantification methods to evaluate the probable range of mass loss from this region for two future climate scenarios. We find that the rate of ice loss until 2100 will likely remain similar to present-day observations, with little sensitivity to climate scenario over this short time frame.

Aspect controls on the spatial redistribution of snow water equivalence through the lateral flow of liquid water in a subalpine catchment

Aspect controls on the spatial redistribution of snow water equivalence through the lateral flow of liquid water in a subalpine catchment Kori L. Mooney and Ryan W. Webb The Cryosphere, 19, 2507–2526, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2507-2025, 2025 This study observes the movement of snow water equivalence (SWE) during mid-winter surface melt and spring snowmelt periods. We observed that the south-facing slope that experienced mid-winter surface melt events showed meltwater flowing downslope through the snow. The north-facing slope saw a similar redistribution of meltwater during the spring snowmelt period.

Why America’s still freezing — even as the world heats up

Even in a warming climate, brutal cold snaps still hammer parts of the U.S., and a new study uncovers why. High above the Arctic, two distinct polar vortex patterns — both distorted and displaced — play a major role in steering icy air toward different regions. One sends it plunging into the Northwest, while the other aims it at the Central and Eastern U.S. Since 2015, the westward version has been more common, bringing intensified cold to the Northwest in defiance of global warming trends. This stratospheric detective work offers fresh insight into extreme winter weather — and could supercharge long-range forecasts.

Observations of Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier Reveal a Cracked Surface

Learn about the new technique being used to study cracks that have formed on Antarctica's unstable Doomsday Glacier.

Brief communication: Sensitivity of Antarctic ice shelf melting to ocean warming across basal melt models

Brief communication: Sensitivity of Antarctic ice shelf melting to ocean warming across basal melt models Erwin Lambert and Clara Burgard The Cryosphere, 19, 2495–2505, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2495-2025, 2025 The effect of ocean warming on Antarctic ice-sheet melting is a major source of uncertainty in estimates of future sea level rise. We compare five melt models to show that ocean warming strongly increases melting. Despite their calibration based on present-day melting, the models disagree on the amount of melt increase. In some important regions, the difference reaches a factor 100. We conclude that using various melt models is important to accurately estimate uncertainties in future sea level rise.

Daily briefing: The true nature of Greenland’s unique sled dogs revealed by centuries-old DNA

Nature, Published online: 11 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02230-5

Extensive fluvial surfaces at the East Antarctic margin have modulated ice-sheet evolution

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 11 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01734-z

Author Correction: Global emergent responses of stream microbial energetics to glacier shrinkage

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 11 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01763-8

Centuries-old DNA reveals origins of Greenland’s unique dogs

Nature, Published online: 10 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02184-8

Record-setting recovery of ancient protein used to identify extinct rhino relative

Scientists sequence 20-million-year-old enamel protein from teeth fossils preserved in Arctic cold

Amplified warming accelerates deoxygenation in the Arctic Ocean

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 09 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02376-0

Synthesis of deuterated acids and bases using bipolar membranes

Nature, Published online: 09 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09274-7

Bowhead whale faeces link increasing algal toxins in the Arctic to ocean warming

Nature, Published online: 09 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09230-5

Phylogenetically informative proteins from an Early Miocene rhinocerotid

Nature, Published online: 09 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09231-4

As Glaciers Retreat, Powerful Volcanoes May Erupt More Frequently Across the Planet

Learn more about the connection between melting glaciers and volcanic eruptions, a volatile relationship that has existed since the last Ice Age.

A new method for analyzing the stability of sunspots

Sunspots are the most striking phenomenon of the solar magnetic field. After the invention of the telescope early in the 17th century, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was the first to routinely observe sunspots. In the 20th century, with the help of modern techniques such as spectroscopy and later polarimetry, scientists realized that these spots are the locations of strong magnetic fields.

Melting glaciers are awakening Earth's most dangerous volcanoes

As glaciers melt around the world, long-dormant volcanoes may be waking up beneath the ice. New research reveals that massive ice sheets have suppressed eruptions for thousands of years, building up underground pressure. But as that icy weight disappears, it may trigger a wave of explosive eruptions—especially in places like Antarctica. This unexpected volcanic threat not only poses regional risks but could also accelerate climate change in a dangerous feedback loop. The Earth’s hidden fire may be closer to the surface than we thought.

Calving driven by horizontal forces in a revised crevasse-depth framework

Calving driven by horizontal forces in a revised crevasse-depth framework Donald A. Slater and Till J. W. Wagner The Cryosphere, 19, 2475–2493, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2475-2025, 2025 Calving is when icebergs break off glaciers and fall into the ocean. It is an important process determining how ice sheets will respond to changes in climate, but it is currently poorly understood and hard to include in numerical models that are used for sea-level projections. We adapted and extended an existing theory for how this process works, better explaining observations showing that calving style depends on how thick the ice is.

The role of snowmelt, glacier melt and rainfall in streamflow dynamics on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula

The role of snowmelt, glacier melt and rainfall in streamflow dynamics on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula Ondřej Nedělčev, Michael Matějka, Kamil Láska, Zbyněk Engel, Jan Kavan, and Michal Jenicek The Cryosphere, 19, 2457–2473, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2457-2025, 2025 The annual variability of runoff has not been analysed in the maritime Antarctic. Thus, we simulated and analysed rain, snow and glacier contributions to runoff related to climate variability in a small catchment over 11 years. The majority of the runoff came from snowmelt. Inter-annual variability in total runoff was associated with large variability in glacier runoff. Between October and May, 92 % of the runoff occurred, with significant runoff events outside the usual measurement season.

Automatic grounding line delineation of DInSAR interferograms using deep learning

Automatic grounding line delineation of DInSAR interferograms using deep learning Sindhu Ramanath, Lukas Krieger, Dana Floricioiu, Codruț-Andrei Diaconu, and Konrad Heidler The Cryosphere, 19, 2431–2455, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2431-2025, 2025 Grounding lines are geophysical features that divide ice masses on the bedrock and floating ice shelves. Their accurate location is required for calculating the mass balance of ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland. Human experts still manually detect them in satellite-based interferometric radar images, which is inefficient given the growing volume of data. We have developed an artificial-intelligence-based automatic detection algorithm to generate Antarctica-wide grounding lines.

Melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash wave of volcanic eruptions, study says

Research in Chile suggests climate crisis makes eruptions more likely and explosive, and warns of Antarctica risk

The melting of glaciers and ice caps by the climate crisis could unleash a barrage of explosive volcanic eruptions, a study suggests.

The loss of ice releases the pressure on underground magma chambers and makes eruptions more likely. This process has been seen in Iceland, an unusual island that sits on a mid-ocean tectonic plate boundary. But the research in Chile is one of the first studies to show a surge in volcanism on a continent in the past, after the last ice age ended.

Antarctica’s slow collapse caught on camera—and it’s accelerating

Long-lost 1960s aerial photos let Copenhagen researchers watch Antarctica’s Wordie Ice Shelf crumble in slow motion. By fusing film with satellites, they discovered warm ocean water, not surface ponds, drives the destruction, and mapped “pinning points” that reveal how far a collapse has progressed. The work shows these break-ups unfold more gradually than feared, yet once the ice “brake” fails, land-based glaciers surge, setting up meters of future sea-level rise that will strike northern coasts.

Fiona the Pregnant Sea Reptile’s Fossil Hints at the Birth of a New Ocean

An ichthyosaur preserved beneath a Chilean glacier is helping scientists understand the extinct animals and the world around them as a supercontinent broke up.

Rock Library Reveals the Mysteries of the Transantarctic Mountains

Learn more about the rock librabry that holds ancient rocks and clues from

Scientists thought the Arctic was sealed in ice — they were wrong

For decades, scientists believed the Arctic Ocean was sealed under a massive slab of ice during the coldest ice ages — but new research proves otherwise. Sediment samples from the seafloor, paired with cutting-edge climate simulations, show that the Arctic actually remained partially open, with seasonal sea ice allowing life to survive in the harshest climates. Traces of ancient algae, thriving only when light and water mix, reveal that the region was never a frozen tomb. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s past but offers vital clues about how the Arctic — and our planet — may respond to climate extremes ahead.

U.S. Science Cuts in Antarctica May Embolden China and Russia

The continent is dedicated to research and cooperation, but proposed funding cuts in the Trump administration and actions by other world powers may alter the environment.

Trends in the annual snow melt-out day over the French Alps and Pyrenees from 38 years of high-resolution satellite data (1986–2023)

Trends in the annual snow melt-out day over the French Alps and Pyrenees from 38 years of high-resolution satellite data (1986–2023) Zacharie Barrou Dumont, Simon Gascoin, Jordi Inglada, Andreas Dietz, Jonas Köhler, Matthieu Lafaysse, Diego Monteiro, Carlo Carmagnola, Arthur Bayle, Jean-Pierre Dedieu, Olivier Hagolle, and Philippe Choler The Cryosphere, 19, 2407–2429, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2407-2025, 2025 We generated annual maps of snow melt-out days at 20 m resolution over a period of 38 years from 10 different satellites. This study fills a knowledge gap regarding the evolution of mountain snow in Europe by covering a much longer period and characterizing trends at much higher resolutions than previous studies. We found a trend for earlier melt-out with average reductions of 5.51 d per decade over the French Alps and 4.04 d per decade over the Pyrenees for the period 1986–2023.

Antarctic waters getting saltier as sea ice wanes

Using data from ESA’s SMOS satellite, scientists have revealed a surprising shift in the Southern Ocean – surface waters around Antarctica are growing saltier, even as sea ice is diminishing rapidly. This finding defies the norm because melting ice typically freshens ocean surface water.

The implications are far-reaching as changes in this remote region can disrupt global ocean currents, affect climate patterns, and alter ecosystems far beyond the Antarctic.

American teen pilot detained on small island in Antarctica

Ethan Guo, 19, had flown his plane across the six other continents before he was arrested, according to his social media.

Rapid increases in satellite-observed ice sheet surface meltwater production

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 04 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02364-4

Continent-wide mapping shows increasing sensitivity of East Antarctica to meltwater ponding

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 04 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02363-5

East Antarctica slides into the spotlight as surface melt hotspot

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 04 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02371-5

Development and fluctuation of crystal orientation fabric in the deep sections of the Dome Fuji ice core, Antarctica: impacts of dust particles and migration recrystallization

Development and fluctuation of crystal orientation fabric in the deep sections of the Dome Fuji ice core, Antarctica: impacts of dust particles and migration recrystallization Tomotaka Saruya, Atsushi Miyamoto, Shuji Fujita, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Akira Hori, Makoto Igarashi, Yoshinori Iizuka, Takao Kameda, Hiroshi Ohno, Wataru Shigeyama, and Shun Tsutaki The Cryosphere, 19, 2365–2385, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2365-2025, 2025 Crystal orientation fabrics and microstructures in the deep sections of the Dome Fuji (DF) ice core were investigated using innovative methods with dense depth coverage. Together with our previous studies, we have obtained whole layer profiles of the crystal orientation fabric and physical properties of the DF ice core. Development and fluctuation of the crystal orientation fabric were found to be highly dependent on impurity concentrations and recrystallization processes.

The impact of regional-scale upper-mantle heterogeneity on glacial isostatic adjustment in West Antarctica

The impact of regional-scale upper-mantle heterogeneity on glacial isostatic adjustment in West Antarctica Erica M. Lucas, Natalya Gomez, and Terry Wilson The Cryosphere, 19, 2387–2405, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2387-2025, 2025 We investigate the effects of incorporating regional-scale lateral variability (ca. 50–100 km) in upper-mantle structure into models of Earth deformation and sea level change associated with ice mass changes in West Antarctica. Regional-scale variability in upper-mantle structure is found to impact relative sea level and crustal rate predictions for modern (last ca. 25–125 years) and projected (next ca. 300 years) ice mass changes, especially in coastal regions that undergo rapid ice mass loss.

Antarctica’s ocean flip: Satellites catch sudden salt surge melting ice from below

A massive and surprising change is unfolding around Antarctica. Scientists have discovered that the Southern Ocean is getting saltier, and sea ice is melting at record speed, enough to match the size of Greenland. This change has reversed a decades-long trend and is letting hidden heat rise to the surface, melting the ice from below. One of the most dramatic signs is the return of a giant hole in the ice that hadn’t been seen in 50 years. The consequences are global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and serious trouble for penguins and other polar wildlife.

Brief communication: Reduced bandwidth improves the depth limit of the radar coherence method for detecting ice crystal fabric asymmetry

Brief communication: Reduced bandwidth improves the depth limit of the radar coherence method for detecting ice crystal fabric asymmetry Ole Zeising, Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, and Carlos Martín The Cryosphere, 19, 2355–2363, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2355-2025, 2025 Ice crystal orientation influences how glacier ice deforms. Radar polarimetry is commonly used to study the bulk ice crystal orientation, but the often used coherence method only provides information of the shallow ice in fast-flowing areas. This study shows that reducing the bandwidth of high-bandwidth radar data significantly enhances the depth limit of the coherence method. This improvement helps us to better understand ice dynamics in fast-flowing ice streams.

A Saltier Southern Ocean Could Cause More Melting Ice in Antarctica

Learn why a surge in the Southern Ocean’s salinity is an alarming sign for the future of Antarctic ice.

Tracking sea ice is ‘early warning system’ for global heating – but the US is halting data sharing

News comes as research finds record lows of Antarctic sea ice had seen more icebergs splintering off ice shelves

Scientists analysing the cascading impacts of record low levels of Antarctic sea ice fear a loss of critical US government satellite data will make it harder to track the rapid changes taking place at both poles.

Researchers around the globe were told last week the US Department of Defence will stop processing and providing the data, used in studies on the state of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, at the end of this month.

The demise of the world's largest piedmont glacier: a probabilistic forecast

The demise of the world's largest piedmont glacier: a probabilistic forecast Douglas J. Brinkerhoff, Brandon S. Tober, Michael Daniel, Victor Devaux-Chupin, Michael S. Christoffersen, John W. Holt, Christopher F. Larsen, Mark Fahnestock, Michael G. Loso, Kristin M. F. Timm, Russell C. Mitchell, and Martin Truffer The Cryosphere, 19, 2321–2353, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2321-2025, 2025 Sít' Tlein is one of the largest glaciers in the world outside of the polar regions, and we know that it has been rapidly thinning. To forecast how this glacier will change in the future, we combine a computer model of ice flow with measurements from many different sources. Our model tells us that with high probability, Sít' Tlein's lower reaches are going to disappear in the next century and a half, creating a new bay or lake along Alaska's coastline.

Large-scale ice-shelf calving events follow prolonged amplifications in flexure

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 01 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01713-4

Fast ice — the last line of defence for weakened Antarctic ice shelves

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 01 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01714-3

Near Antarctica, Saltier Seas Mean Less Ice, Study Finds

Briny warm water is mixing on the surface of the ocean, making sea ice melt faster, a new study found.

Ancient Wildfires Shaped Antarctica and the Atacama Desert into the Most Extreme Places on Earth

Discover why Antarctica no longer has lush forests with giant ferns and how ancient fires fueled intense volcanic activity.

Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra

Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra Edward H. Bair, Dar A. Roberts, David R. Thompson, Philip G. Brodrick, Brenton A. Wilder, Niklas Bohn, Christopher J. Crawford, Nimrod Carmon, Carrie M. Vuyovich, and Jeff Dozier The Cryosphere, 19, 2315–2320, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2315-2025, 2025 Key to the success of future satellite missions is understanding snowmelt in our warming climate, as this has implications for nearly 2 billion people. An obstacle is that an artifact, called the hook, is often mistaken for soot or dust. Instead, it is caused by three amplifying effects: (1) background reflectance that is too dark, (2) an assumption of level terrain, and (3) differences in optical constants of ice. Sensor calibration and directional effects may also contribute. Solutions are presented.

Role of elevation feedbacks and ice sheet–climate interactions on future Greenland ice sheet melt

Role of elevation feedbacks and ice sheet–climate interactions on future Greenland ice sheet melt Thirza Feenstra, Miren Vizcaino, Bert Wouters, Michele Petrini, Raymond Sellevold, and Katherine Thayer-Calder The Cryosphere, 19, 2289–2314, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2289-2025, 2025 We present the first evaluation of Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) and climate feedbacks with a CMIP model. Under 4×CO2 forcing, lower elevations reduce GrIS summer blocking and incoming solar radiation and increase precipitation. Simulated increases of near-surface summer temperature are much lower than the 6 K km-1 lapse rate that is commonly used in non-coupled simulations. CO2 reduction to pre-industrial (PI) halts GrIS mass loss regardless of higher global warming and albedo than PI control.

Bathymetry-constrained warm-mode melt estimates derived from analysing oceanic gateways in Antarctica

Bathymetry-constrained warm-mode melt estimates derived from analysing oceanic gateways in Antarctica Lena Nicola, Ronja Reese, Moritz Kreuzer, Torsten Albrecht, and Ricarda Winkelmann The Cryosphere, 19, 2263–2287, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2263-2025, 2025 We identify potential oceanic gateways to Antarctic grounding lines based on high-resolution bathymetry data and examine the effect of access depths on ice-shelf melt rates. These gateways manifest the deepest topographic features that could channel warm water masses to the base of the ice sheet. We identify oceanic gateways in several Antarctic regions and estimate an upper bound of melt rate changes in case all warm water masses gain access to the cavities.

Antarctic subglacial trace metal mobility linked to climate change across termination III

Antarctic subglacial trace metal mobility linked to climate change across termination III Gavin Piccione, Terrence Blackburn, Paul Northrup, Slawek Tulaczyk, and Troy Rasbury The Cryosphere, 19, 2247–2261, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2247-2025, 2025 Growth of microorganisms in the Southern Ocean is limited by low iron levels. Iron delivered from beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet is one agent that fertilizes these ecosystems, but it is unclear how this nutrient source changes through time. Here, we measured the age and chemistry of a rock that records the iron concentration of Antarctic basal water. We show that increased dissolution of iron from rocks below the ice sheet can substantially enhance iron discharge during cold climate periods.

Mechanisms and impacts of anomalous high-salinity shelf water formation in the Ross Sea

Mechanisms and impacts of anomalous high-salinity shelf water formation in the Ross Sea Xiaoqiao Wang, Zhaoru Zhang, Chuan Xie, Xi Zhao, Chuning Wang, Heng Hu, and Yuanjie Chen The Cryosphere, 19, 2229–2245, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2229-2025, 2025 Global bottom water originates from high-salinity shelf water (HSSW), formed by intense sea ice production (SIP) in the Southern Ocean. This study uses numerical outputs for the Ross Sea to examine the extreme HSSW event in 2007, when atmospheric circulations enhanced SIP, resulting in the highest HSSW volume in a decade. However, salinity was low, owing to increased meltwater. The findings highlight the complex interplay between SIP and ice shelf melting, with key implications for ocean processes.

Satellite data reveal details of glacial isostatic adjustment in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, West Antarctica

Satellite data reveal details of glacial isostatic adjustment in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, West Antarctica Matthias O. Willen, Bert Wouters, Taco Broerse, Eric Buchta, and Veit Helm The Cryosphere, 19, 2213–2227, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2213-2025, 2025 Collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Amundsen Sea Embayment is likely in the near future. Vertical uplift of bedrock due to glacial isostatic adjustment stabilizes the ice sheet and may delay its collapse. So far, only spatially and temporally sparse GPS measurements have been able to observe this bedrock motion. We have combined satellite data and quantified a region-wide bedrock motion that independently matches GPS measurements. This can improve ice sheet predictions.

North Atlantic’s volcanic secrets – it’s all about being thin

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world, but its seismic nature is part of a much broader geological history.

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists, supported by an ESA-funded project, have uncovered the underlying forces that forged the North Atlantic’s fiery volcanic past – shedding light on the vast geological region that spans from Greenland to western Europe, which is home to iconic natural wonders like the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. 

North Atlantic’s volcanic secrets – it’s about being thin

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world, but its seismic nature is part of a much broader geological history.

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists, supported by an ESA-funded project, have uncovered the underlying forces that forged the North Atlantic’s fiery volcanic past – shedding light on the vast geological region that spans from Greenland to western Europe, which is home to iconic natural wonders like the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. 

Sea ice lows high on the agenda

Satellite observations reveal that the extent of sea ice in the Arctic is once again hovering near record lows for this time of year – underscoring a troubling and persistent trend. This issue is a key topic at ESA’s Living Planet Symposium in Vienna, where scientists are emphasising the critical role that ESA’s Climate Change Initiative Sea Ice Project and CryoSat mission have had in helping to underpin these findings.

Looking ahead, the ability to monitor polar sea ice is in safe hands, as the development of the new CRISTAL mission is progressing well and the first satellite will be ready for launch in the second half of 2027.

Fine-scale variability in iceberg velocity fields and implications for an ice-associated pinniped

Fine-scale variability in iceberg velocity fields and implications for an ice-associated pinniped Lynn M. Kaluzienski, Jason M. Amundson, Jamie N. Womble, Andrew K. Bliss, and Linnea E. Pearson The Cryosphere, 19, 2197–2211, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2197-2025, 2025 Icebergs in fjords serve as an important habitat for marine mammals. This study examines the dynamics of iceberg habits in a glacier–fjord system and its impact on harbor seal life-history events such as pupping and molting (shedding). By combining feature tracking from time-lapse cameras with aerial surveys, we analyzed iceberg movement and linked it to seal abundance and distribution in the fjord. Our work reveals that plume dynamics can influence seal populations over daily to annual timescales.

Review article: Feature tracing in radio-echo sounding products of terrestrial ice sheets and planetary bodies

Review article: Feature tracing in radio-echo sounding products of terrestrial ice sheets and planetary bodies Hameed Moqadam and Olaf Eisen The Cryosphere, 19, 2159–2196, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2159-2025, 2025 This is an overview of methodologies that have been applied to map the internal reflection horizons, or ice-layer boundaries, of ice sheets on Earth and other planets. We briefly explain radar applications in glaciology and the methods which have been used and published. There are summaries of the published work of the last 2 decades. Finally, we conclude by introducing the gaps and opportunities for further advancement in this field, and we present possible future directions.

Improved basal drag of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet from L-curve analysis of inverse models utilizing subglacial hydrology simulations

Improved basal drag of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet from L-curve analysis of inverse models utilizing subglacial hydrology simulations Lea-Sophie Höyns, Thomas Kleiner, Andreas Rademacher, Martin Rückamp, Michael Wolovick, and Angelika Humbert The Cryosphere, 19, 2133–2158, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2133-2025, 2025 The sliding of glaciers over bedrock is influenced by water pressure in the underlying hydrological system and the roughness of the land underneath the glacier. We estimate this roughness through a modeling approach that optimizes this unknown parameter. Additionally, we simulate water pressure, enhancing the reliability of the computed drag at the ice sheet base. The resulting data are provided to other modelers and scientists conducting geophysical field observations.

Toward a marginal Arctic sea ice cover: changes to freezing, melting and dynamics

Toward a marginal Arctic sea ice cover: changes to freezing, melting and dynamics Rebecca C. Frew, Adam William Bateson, Daniel L. Feltham, and David Schröder The Cryosphere, 19, 2115–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2115-2025, 2025 As summer Arctic sea ice extent has retreated, the marginal ice zone (MIZ) has been widening and making up an increasing percentage of the summer sea ice. The MIZ is projected to become a larger percentage of the summer ice cover, as the Arctic transitions to ice-free summers. Using a sea ice model, we find that the processes and timing of sea ice loss differ in the MIZ to the rest of the sea cover. We also find the balance of processes within the MIZ changes over time as the sea ice retreats.

King's Midwinter message to Antarctic researchers

King Charles is the first monarch to take part in the annual BBC broadcast, which sends a morale-raising message to scientists on remote research bases.

Gravity, flipped: How tiny, porous particles sink faster in ocean snowstorms

In a twist on conventional wisdom, researchers have discovered that in ocean-like fluids with changing density, tiny porous particles can sink faster than larger ones, thanks to how they absorb salt. Using clever lab experiments with 3D-printed agar shapes in a stratified water column, scientists demonstrated that porosity and particle shape are major factors in determining sinking speed. This finding could revolutionize how we understand carbon cycling, microplastic behavior, and even strategies for ocean-based carbon capture.

Air Bubbles Trapped in Ice Could Become Secret Codes in Polar Regions

Learn how air bubbles trapped in ice have inspired a special code that can improve communication in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Mineral-rich Greenland says it doesn't want to become a great mining nation. Here's why

Greenland has little interest in harnessing its massive resource potential to become a top mining country.

Hidden carbon giants: Satellite data reveals a 40-year Arctic peatland surge

Arctic peatlands are expanding with rising temperatures, storing more carbon at least for now. But future warming could reverse this benefit, releasing massive emissions.

Brief communication: Improving lake ice modeling in ORCHIDEE-FLake model using MODIS albedo data

Brief communication: Improving lake ice modeling in ORCHIDEE-FLake model using MODIS albedo data Zacharie Titus, Amélie Cuynet, Elodie Salmon, and Catherine Ottlé The Cryosphere, 19, 2105–2114, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2105-2025, 2025 The representation of lake ice dynamics is key to model water–atmosphere energy and mass transfers in cold environments. The use of albedo satellite products to constrain the modeling of ice coverage appears to be very suitable and valuable. In this work, we show how the modeling of lake albedo and ice phenology in the land surface model ORCHIDEE was improved by accounting for fractional ice cover calibrated against lake surface albedo data.

Viscoelastic mechanics of tidally induced lake drainage in the grounding zone

Viscoelastic mechanics of tidally induced lake drainage in the grounding zone Hanwen Zhang, Richard F. Katz, and Laura A. Stevens The Cryosphere, 19, 2087–2103, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2087-2025, 2025 In Antarctica, supraglacial lakes often form near grounding lines due to surface melting. We model viscoelastic tidal flexure in these regions to assess its contribution to lake drainage via hydrofracturing. Results show that tidal flexure and lake-water pressure jointly control drainage near unconfined grounding lines. Sensitivity analysis indicates the importance of the Maxwell time of ice in modulating the tidal response.

First MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5 arrive at launch site

Europe will soon be taking another leap forward in its weather forecasting capacity as the first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, satellite arrives safely at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a pivotal moment on the road to launch.

This new polar-orbiting weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and other atmospheric trace gases.

Glacial erosion and history of Inglefield Land, northwestern Greenland

Glacial erosion and history of Inglefield Land, northwestern Greenland Caleb K. Walcott-George, Allie Balter-Kennedy, Jason P. Briner, Joerg M. Schaefer, and Nicolás E. Young The Cryosphere, 19, 2067–2086, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2067-2025, 2025 Understanding the history and drivers of Greenland Ice Sheet change is important for forecasting future ice sheet retreat. We combined geologic mapping and cosmogenic nuclide measurements to investigate how the Greenland Ice Sheet formed the landscape of Inglefield Land, northwestern Greenland. We found that Inglefield Land was covered by warm- and cold-based ice during multiple glacial cycles and that much of Inglefield Land is an ancient landscape.

Winter sea ice supercharges Southern Ocean’s CO2 uptake

A breakthrough study has uncovered that the Southern Ocean's power to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere fluctuates dramatically depending on winter sea ice. When sea ice lingers longer into winter, the ocean absorbs up to 20% more CO2, thanks to a protective effect that blocks turbulent winds from stirring up deeper, carbon-loaded waters. This subtle seasonal shield plays a vital role in buffering our planet against climate change. But here s the twist: winter data from the Southern Ocean is notoriously scarce due to its brutal conditions, meaning we might be missing a key piece of Earth s climate puzzle.

Is a monster web of ocean currents headed for collapse? The race is on to find out

Nature, Published online: 18 June 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01885-4

Unexplainable Radio Waves Under Antarctica's Ice Defy the Laws of Particle Physics

Learn more about these mysterious signals in Antarctica that could be evidence of dark matter.

Macron visits Greenland in show of European unity and signal to Trump

France's Emmanuel Macron is visiting Greenland to hold talks on North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change and critical minerals.

Study Shows Mercury Levels in Arctic Wildlife Could Rise for Centuries

Even as global emissions plateau, new research shows that wildlife in the Arctic is exposed to rising levels, posing a risk to those who eat it.

Toxic tides: Centuries-old mercury is flooding the arctic food chain

Despite falling global mercury emissions, mercury levels in Arctic wildlife continue to rise. A new study reveals that ocean currents are delivering legacy mercury pollution from distant regions like China to the Arctic, where it accumulates in animals and ecosystems.

Sun’s south pole revealed for first time, in images from Solar Orbiter spacecraft

Groundbreaking observations map chaotic patchwork of magnetic activity at pole, said to be key to understanding how sun’s field flips

The sun’s uncharted south pole has been revealed for the first time in striking images beamed back from the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.

The joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Nasa mission swooped below the planetary plane and, for the first time, captured the sun’s mysterious polar regions. The groundbreaking observations also mapped a chaotic patchwork of magnetic activity at the sun’s pole that scientists say is key to understanding how the sun’s field flips roughly every 11 years.

This Elusive Antarctic Squid Was Seen for the First Time

An expedition in the Southern Ocean captured video of a rare species of deep-sea cephalopod. Until now, it had been found only in fishing nets and in the bellies of seabirds.

First Ever Images of Sun’s South Pole Released by ESA Solar Orbiter

Visuals from the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter reveal chaotic solar magnetism in the solar polar region. Even better images are expected in the years ahead.

PUNCH mission images huge solar eruption

Southwest Research Institute's Dr. Craig DeForest discussed the latest accomplishments of NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission during a media event at the 246th American Astronomical Society meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Grounded ridge detection and characterization along the Alaska Arctic coastline using ICESat-2 surface height retrievals

Grounded ridge detection and characterization along the Alaska Arctic coastline using ICESat-2 surface height retrievals Kennedy A. Lange, Alice C. Bradley, Kyle Duncan, and Sinéad L. Farrell The Cryosphere, 19, 2045–2065, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2045-2025, 2025 Grounded sea ice ridges stabilize nearshore sea ice by anchoring it in the seafloor. In this study, we develop a method to identify grounded ridges in satellite data and measure the height, depth, distance from shore, and width of a thousand ridges across the Alaska Arctic, finding regional differences in these metrics across the coastline. This method lays the groundwork for a better understanding of nearshore ice stability, holding importance for Arctic community food security and safety. 

Sustained decrease in inland East Antarctic surface mass balance between 2005 and 2020

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 11 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01699-z

Schoolchildren swept away as heavy floods and snow hit South Africa

Three children have been found alive, with search and rescue operations suspended for the night.

Brief communication: Mimicking periglacial landforms and processes in an ice-rich layered permafrost system with polydisperse melamine materials – a new concept

Brief communication: Mimicking periglacial landforms and processes in an ice-rich layered permafrost system with polydisperse melamine materials – a new concept Emmanuel Léger, François Costard, Rémi Lambert, Albane Saintenoy, Antoine Séjourné, and Maxime Leblanc The Cryosphere, 19, 2037–2044, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2037-2025, 2025 This study explores the use of lightweight plastic particles to reproduce cryo-induced terrestrial geomorphologic features at the laboratory scale within an experiment on permafrost and active-layer thawing. We show that, due to their low density and peculiar hydrodynamic parameters, these lightweight particles, originally designed for river sediment deposition and erosion, are suitable for reproducing cryo-induced 3D geomorphological features found in terrestrial retrogressive thaw slumps.

Depression and Bipolar Disorder May Be Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

Mood disorders late in life could point to brain changes tied to dementia, potentially helping doctors catch Alzheimer’s earlier.

ASCCI: Dancing with a satellite and the northern lights during polar night flights

The European Space Agency’s Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) has been in space for over a year already, measuring the effect of clouds and aerosols in regulating Earth’s climate. Time has flown by, as have myriad planes from Cabo Verde to California, and Canada to Kiruna, criss-crossing EarthCARE’s [...]

Daily briefing: ‘A necessary evil’ — Cutting off rhinos’ horns to deter poachers really works

Nature, Published online: 09 June 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01832-3

Italian citizenship referendum polarises country

People are voting on whether to cut from 10 to five years the time required to apply for citizenship.

U.S. military trims access to its critical sea ice measurements

Data gaps come as Arctic sea ice shrinks to near-record lows

IXPE obtains first X-ray polarization measurement of magnetar outburst

What happens when the universe's most magnetic object shines with the power of 1000 suns in a matter of seconds? Thanks to NASA's IXPE (Imaging X‑ray Polarimetry Explorer), a mission in collaboration with ASI (Italian Space Agency), scientists are one step closer to understanding this extreme event.

May sea ice…always grace our planet’s poles

Scientists say next few years vital to securing the future of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could be triggered with very little ocean warming above present-day, leading to a devastating four meters of global sea level rise to play out over hundreds of years according to a new study. However, the authors emphasize that immediate actions to reduce emissions could still avoid a catastrophic outcome.

First direct observation of the trapped waves that shook the world in 2023

A new study has finally confirmed the theory that the cause of extraordinary global tremors in September -- October 2023 was indeed two mega tsunamis in Greenland that became trapped standing waves. Using a brand-new type of satellite altimetry, the researchers provide the first observations to confirm the existence of these waves whose behavior is entirely unprecedented.

Evaluation of the Snow Climate Change Initiative (Snow CCI) snow-covered area product within a mountain snow water equivalent reanalysis

Evaluation of the Snow Climate Change Initiative (Snow CCI) snow-covered area product within a mountain snow water equivalent reanalysis Haorui Sun, Yiwen Fang, Steven A. Margulis, Colleen Mortimer, Lawrence Mudryk, and Chris Derksen The Cryosphere, 19, 2017–2036, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2017-2025, 2025 The European Space Agency's Snow Climate Change Initiative (Snow CCI) developed a high-quality snow cover extent and snow water equivalent (SWE) climate data record. However, gaps exist in complex terrain due to challenges in using passive microwave sensing and in situ measurements. This study presents a methodology to fill the mountain SWE gap using Snow CCI snow cover fraction within a Bayesian SWE reanalysis framework, with potential applications in untested regions and with other sensors.

Importance of ice elasticity in simulating tide-induced grounding line variations along prograde bed slopes

Importance of ice elasticity in simulating tide-induced grounding line variations along prograde bed slopes Natalya Ross, Pietro Milillo, Kalyana Nakshatrala, Roberto Ballarini, Aaron Stubblefield, and Luigi Dini The Cryosphere, 19, 1995–2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1995-2025, 2025 Analyzing remote sensing radar data over three Antarctic glaciers, we observe short-term grounding line migrations. We simulate this phenomenon using viscous and viscoelastic continuum mechanics models. We quantify the sensitivity of the grounding zone width to bedrock slope, glacier thickness, and ice flow speed. Comparisons of the models’ predictions with the observations highlight the necessity of including ice elasticity in non-Newtonian models of glacier ice.

Should there be a national holiday in honour of chemists?

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01560-8

Snowflake to buy database startup Crunchy Data for about $250 million

Snowflake will pay about $250 million, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.

Amazon's pricing controls may be anticompetitive, German regulator warns

Regulators alleged that Amazon's price caps limit the visibility of merchants' products and interfere with their freedom to set prices.

John Brenkus, Who Merged Sports and Science on TV, Dies at 53

His “Sport Science” program was whimsical and fun, showing how golfers can drive balls so far and how snowboarders’ quad flips generated G-forces.

The polar regions hold crucial scientific secrets — and the time to study them is running out

Nature, Published online: 02 June 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01683-y

Idyllic Swiss village stood for centuries - until a roaring glacier wiped it out

Nine million cubic metres of rock and ice came crashing down on Blatten after a landslide.

Birds Nested Alongside Dinosaurs in Alaska 73 Million Years Ago

Learn more about the earliest evidence of birds breeding and nesting in the Arctic, a behavior that millions of birds continue to this day.

Save twice the ice by limiting global warming

A new study finds that if global warming exceeds the Paris Climate Agreement targets, the non-polar glacier mass will diminish significantly. However, if warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, at least 54 per cent could be preserved -- more than twice as much ice as in a 2.7 C scenario.

Birds nested in Arctic alongside dinosaurs

Spring in the Arctic brings forth a plethora of peeps and downy hatchlings as millions of birds gather to raise their young. The same was true 73 million years ago, according to a new article. The paper documents the earliest-known example of birds nesting in the polar regions.

Anthropologists spotlight human toll of glacier loss

Anthropologists have examined the societal consequences of global glacier loss.

Some Glaciers Will Vanish No Matter What, Study Finds

Glacial ice will melt for centuries even if global temperatures stop rising now, according to new research.

Birds were nesting in the Arctic during age of dinosaurs, scientists discover

Minuscule fossils from 73m years ago are oldest evidence yet for birds nesting in polar regions

The Arctic might evoke images of polar bears and seals, but 73m years ago it was a dinosaur stomping ground. Now fossil hunters say these beasts shared their turf with a host of different birds.

Researchers believe their discovery of more than 50 bird fossils from the Prince Creek formation in Alaska is the oldest evidence of birds nesting in polar regions, pushing back the date by more than 25m years.

Watch: Moment a glacier collapses down Alps and onto village

Ice and rubble crashed down a mountain and onto the village Blatten in the Swiss Alps.

Glacier collapse buries most of Swiss village

Many homes in Blatten have been flattened after a large chunk of the Birch glacier fell on to the village.

Glacier collapse swallows part of Swiss village

One person has been reported missing and many homes have been flattened.

German court rejects Peruvian farmer's landmark climate case

Saúl Luciano Lliuya believes energy giant RWE should be held responsible for melting glaciers.

One researcher shares her experience studying and living with bipolar disorder

Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings between moods: from depression to mania. Kay Redfield Jamison is one of those people. She's also a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has written extensively about the topic, from medical textbooks to personal memoirs. Today on Short Wave, she joins us to talk about the diagnosis process, treating and managing bipolar disorder. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Got a question about mental health? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org.

Can doctors test embryos for autism? And should they?

A newly available kind of genetic testing, called polygenic embryo screening, promises to screen for conditions that can include cancer, obesity, autism, bipolar disorder, even celiac disease. These conditions are informed by many genetic variants and environmental factors - so companies like Orchid and Heliospect assign risk scores to each embryo for a given condition. These tests are expensive, only available through IVF, and some researchers question how these risk scores are calculated. But what would it mean culturally if more people tried to screen out some of these conditions? And how does this connect to societal ideas about whose lives are meaningful? Brittany gets into it with Vardit Ravitsky, senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School and president of the Hastings Center, a non-partisan bioethics research center, and Katie Hasson, associate director of the Center for Genetics and Society, a nonprofit public affairs organization that advocates for responsible use of genetic technology.

The perfect storm for dust storms, thanks to global warming

Nature, Published online: 28 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01654-3

Radiative forcing reduced by early twenty-first century increase in land albedo

Nature, Published online: 28 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08987-z

Electrical switching of a <i>p</i>-wave magnet 

Nature, Published online: 28 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09034-7

Moment police capture two escaped New Orleans inmates

The two men were arrested after a high-speed chase in Texas, just days after they fled a Louisiana jail with eight other inmates.

Tracing ice loss from the Late Holocene to the future in eastern Nuussuaq, central western Greenland

Tracing ice loss from the Late Holocene to the future in eastern Nuussuaq, central western Greenland Josep Bonsoms, Marc Oliva, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, and Guillaume Jouvet The Cryosphere, 19, 1973–1993, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1973-2025, 2025 The extent to which Greenland's peripheral glaciers and ice caps current and future ice loss rates are unprecedented within the Holocene is poorly understood. This study connects the maximum ice extent of the Late Holocene with present and future glacier evolution in the Nuussuaq Peninsula (central western Greenland). By > 2050 glacier mass loss may have doubled in rate compared to the Late Holocene to the present, highlighting significant impacts of anthropogenic climate change.

Anisotropic scattering in radio-echo sounding: insights from northeast Greenland

Anisotropic scattering in radio-echo sounding: insights from northeast Greenland Tamara Annina Gerber, David A. Lilien, Niels F. Nymand, Daniel Steinhage, Olaf Eisen, and Dorthe Dahl-Jensen The Cryosphere, 19, 1955–1971, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1955-2025, 2025 This study examines how anisotropic scattering and birefringence affect radar signals in ice sheets. Using data from northeast Greenland, we show that anisotropic scattering – driven by subtle ice crystal orientation changes – dominates the azimuthal power response. We find a strong link between scattering strength, orientation, and stratigraphy. This suggests anisotropic scattering can reveal crystal fabric orientation and differentiate ice units from distinct climatic periods.

Arctic, feathered … or just weird: what have we learned since Walking with Dinosaurs aired 25 years ago

As the BBC updates its groundbreaking series, a look at some of the recent scientific discoveries

It brought dinosaurs stomping and roaring into the sitting rooms of millions of viewers. Now, 25 years after the series first aired, a new, updated Walking With Dinosaurs is back on the BBC this weekend.

In the intervening years, science has not stood still. About 50 species have been discovered each year since 1999 and the advent of powerful imaging techniques and digital reconstruction have led to major advances in our understanding of what dinosaurs looked like and how they lived. Here are some of the biggest developments.

Tensions rise as superpowers scrap for a piece of the Arctic

As Arctic ice melts, global powers seize new opportunities to extract oil, speed up trade and boost their military presence.

Climate change poses severe threat to bowhead whale habitat

New research examining 11,700 years of bowhead whale persistence throughout the Arctic projects that sea ice loss due to climate change will cause their habitat to severely contract by up to 75 per cent.

Snowflake shares soar to highest level in over a year as revenue tops $1 billion for first time

Snowflake shares popped on Thursday after the data analytics company reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue.

Rare Humpback Whale Calf Sighting Makes Migration Routes More Mysterious Than Once Thought

Learn more about the migrations of East Australian humpback whales, which were traditionally thought to travel from polar to tropical waters to give birth.

Clouding the forecast: Study reveals why so many climate models are wrong about the rate of Arctic warming

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth, but in recent decades, the region has been rapidly warming, at a rate three to four times faster than the global average. However, current climate models have been unable to account for this increased pace. Now, researchers have reported that clouds may be to blame.

Sea level rise will cause ‘catastrophic inland migration’, scientists warn

Rising oceans will force millions away from coasts even if global temperature rise remains below 1.5C, analysis finds

Sea level rise will become unmanageable at just 1.5C of global heating and lead to “catastrophic inland migration”, the scientists behind a new study have warned. This scenario may unfold even if the average level of heating over the last decade of 1.2C continues into the future.

The loss of ice from the giant Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has quadrupled since the 1990s due to the climate crisis and is now the principal driver of sea level rise.

Author Correction: Earth’s ambipolar electrostatic field and its role in ion escape to space

Nature, Published online: 20 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09144-2

Glaciers will take centuries to recover even if global warming is reversed, scientists warn

New research reveals mountain glaciers across the globe will not recover for centuries -- even if human intervention cools the planet back to the 1.5 C limit, having exceeded it.

A facet-based numerical model to retrieve ice sheet topography from Sentinel-3 altimetry

A facet-based numerical model to retrieve ice sheet topography from Sentinel-3 altimetry Jérémie Aublanc, François Boy, Franck Borde, and Pierre Féménias The Cryosphere, 19, 1937–1954, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1937-2025, 2025 In this study we developed a novel processing chain to derive the ice sheet topography from Sentinel-3 altimetry measurements (named "AMPLI"). The major innovation lies in the use of numerical simulations to geolocate the radar impact point on the ground. The performance improvement is substantial compared to ground segment processing. Furthermore, with AMPLI we show that Sentinel-3 estimates the surface elevation change of the Antarctic ice sheet with a high level of agreement with ICESat-2.

How do extreme ENSO events affect Antarctic surface mass balance?

How do extreme ENSO events affect Antarctic surface mass balance? Jessica M. A. Macha, Andrew N. Mackintosh, Felicity S. McCormack, Benjamin J. Henley, Helen V. McGregor, Christiaan T. van Dalum, and Ariaan Purich The Cryosphere, 19, 1915–1935, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1915-2025, 2025 Extreme El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have global impacts, but their Antarctic impacts are poorly understood. Examining Antarctic snow accumulation anomalies of past observed extreme ENSO events, we show that accumulation changes differ between events and are insignificant during most events. Significant changes occur during 2015/16 and in Enderby Land during all extreme El Niños. Historical data limit conclusions, but future greater extremes could cause Antarctic accumulation changes.

An unseasonal atmospheric river drives anomalous summer snow accumulation on glaciers of the subtropical Andes

An unseasonal atmospheric river drives anomalous summer snow accumulation on glaciers of the subtropical Andes Claudio Bravo, Sebastián Cisternas, Maximiliano Viale, Pablo Paredes, Deniz Bozkurt, and Nicolás García-Lee The Cryosphere, 19, 1897–1913, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1897-2025, 2025 We analysed the impact of a summer snow accumulation event linked to an atmospheric river in central Chile. Using observational and remote sensing data, we show that accumulation prevails in all the glaciers of the Maipo River basin, and this sole event defines the fact that the Olivares Alfa glacier mass balance was close to equilibrium despite it being a dry year. This demonstrates that an unseasonal accumulation event can counteract the seasonal trends affecting subtropical Andean glaciers.

Glacier melt trough after overshoot

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02312-2

Irreversible glacier change and trough water for centuries after overshooting 1.5 °C

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02318-w

This article won’t change your mind. Here’s why | Sarah Stein Lubrano

Evidence shows that arguing our case rarely convinces others. It’s social relationships and actions that have that power

• Sarah Stein Lubrano is the author of Don’t Talk About Politics: How to Change 21st-Century Minds

It may seem paradoxical to write this in an opinion piece. But it needs saying: arguments alone have no meaningful effect on people’s beliefs. And the implicit societal acceptance that they do is getting in the way of other, more effective forms of political thinking and doing.

I’m a researcher who studies the intersection of psychology and politics, and my work has increasingly led me to believe that our culture’s understanding of how political persuasion works is wrong. In the age of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the rise of the far right, commentators have endlessly opined on the problems of fake news, polarisation and more. But they’ve mostly been looking in the wrong places – and have focused too much on words.

Sarah Stein Lubrano is the author of Don’t Talk About Politics: How to Change 21st-Century Minds

Earth from Space: Svalbard Archipelago

Image: The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission brings us this cloud-free view of Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Is Britain really inching back towards the EU?

The summit between the UK and EU on 19 May will be the first since Brexit - the very idea of it has polarised opinions

Current reversal leads to regime change in the Amery Ice Shelf cavity in the 21st century

Current reversal leads to regime change in the Amery Ice Shelf cavity in the 21st century Jing Jin, Antony J. Payne, and Christopher Y. S. Bull The Cryosphere, 19, 1873–1896, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1873-2025, 2025 The Amery Ice Shelf cavity is one of the largest cold cavities filled by relatively cold Dense Shelf Water. However, in this study, we show that warm intrusion of modified Circumpolar Deep Water flushes the Amery cavity, which changes it from a cold cavity to a warm cavity and leads to an abrupt increase in the basal melt rate in the 2060s. The shift to a warm cavity is attributed to a freshening-driven current reversal in front of the ice shelf.

Sediment from the Last Ice Age Found in an Alaskan Cave Provides Both History and Forecast

Particles of both minerals and organic matter track the retreat of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, which melted about 20,000 years ago.

Predicting avalanche danger in northern Norway using statistical models

Predicting avalanche danger in northern Norway using statistical models Kai-Uwe Eiselt and Rune Grand Graversen The Cryosphere, 19, 1849–1871, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1849-2025, 2025 In this study we optimise and train a random forest model to predict avalanche danger in northern Norway based on meteorological reanalysis data. The model performance is at the low end compared to recent similar studies. A hindcast of the frequency of avalanche days (based on the avalanche-danger level) is performed from 1970 to 2024, and a correlation is found with the Arctic Oscillation. This has potential implications for longer-term avalanche predictability.

The Largest Mountain Range No One Has Seen Lives Under Antarctica's Ice Sheets

The formation of the Gondwana supercontinent also gave rise to an Antarctic range that has been covered by ice for 500 million years.

NASA's PUNCH catches first rainbow and other new images

As instrument commissioning and calibration checks continue for NASA's newly launched PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, its four spacecraft continue to deliver new images—including its first rainbow-colored view of the sky and the first images taken by two of its instruments.

Semi-continuous release of Cordilleran Ice Sheet meltwater between 20,000 and 17,000 years ago

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 13 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01694-4

Multiple modes of shoreline change along the Alaskan Beaufort Sea observed using ICESat-2 altimetry and satellite imagery

Multiple modes of shoreline change along the Alaskan Beaufort Sea observed using ICESat-2 altimetry and satellite imagery Marnie B. Bryant, Adrian A. Borsa, Eric J. Anderson, Claire C. Masteller, Roger J. Michaelides, Matthew R. Siegfried, and Adam P. Young The Cryosphere, 19, 1825–1847, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1825-2025, 2025 We measure shoreline change across a 7 km stretch of coastline on the Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast between 2019 and 2022 using multispectral imagery from Planet and satellite altimetry from ICESat-2. We find that shoreline change rates are high and variable and that different shoreline types show distinct patterns of change in shoreline position and topography. We discuss how the observed changes may be driven by both time-varying ocean and air conditions and spatial variations in morphology.

A West Antarctic grounding-zone environment shaped by episodic water flow

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 12 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01687-3

Internal clocks determine the ups and downs of Antarctic krill

Antarctic krill do not only react to external environmental influences such as light or food. They also use their internal clock to adapt to the extreme conditions of the polar environment.

Glacier in Antarctica Caught Committing Ice Piracy From Its Neighbor

Learn how and why a glacier is committing “ice piracy” in Antarctica, and what it could mean for rising sea levels.

NASA telescopes tune into a black hole prelude and fugue

NASA has released three new pieces of cosmic sound that are associated with the densest and darkest members of our universe: black holes. These scientific productions are sonifications—or translations into sound—of data collected by NASA telescopes in space, including the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).

The system of atmosphere, land, ice and ocean in the region near the 79N Glacier in northeast Greenland: synthesis and key findings from the Greenland Ice Sheet–Ocean Interaction (GROCE) experiment

The system of atmosphere, land, ice and ocean in the region near the 79N Glacier in northeast Greenland: synthesis and key findings from the Greenland Ice Sheet–Ocean Interaction (GROCE) experiment Torsten Kanzow, Angelika Humbert, Thomas Mölg, Mirko Scheinert, Matthias Braun, Hans Burchard, Francesca Doglioni, Philipp Hochreuther, Martin Horwath, Oliver Huhn, Maria Kappelsberger, Jürgen Kusche, Erik Loebel, Katrina Lutz, Ben Marzeion, Rebecca McPherson, Mahdi Mohammadi-Aragh, Marco Möller, Carolyne Pickler, Markus Reinert, Monika Rhein, Martin Rückamp, Janin Schaffer, Muhammad Shafeeque, Sophie Stolzenberger, Ralph Timmermann, Jenny Turton, Claudia Wekerle, and Ole Zeising The Cryosphere, 19, 1789–1824, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1789-2025, 2025 The Greenland Ice Sheet represents the second-largest contributor to global sea-level rise. We quantify atmosphere, ice and ocean processes related to the mass balance of glaciers in northeast Greenland, focusing on Greenland’s largest floating ice tongue, the 79° N Glacier. We find that together, the different in situ and remote sensing observations and model simulations reveal a consistent picture of a coupled atmosphere–ice sheet–ocean system that has entered a phase of major change.

Disentangling the oceanic drivers behind the post-2000 retreat of Sermeq Kujalleq, Greenland (Jakobshavn Isbræ)

Disentangling the oceanic drivers behind the post-2000 retreat of Sermeq Kujalleq, Greenland (Jakobshavn Isbræ) Ziad Rashed, Alexander A. Robel, and Hélène Seroussi The Cryosphere, 19, 1775–1788, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1775-2025, 2025 Sermeq Kujalleq, Greenland's largest glacier, has significantly retreated since the late 1990s in response to warming ocean temperatures. Using a large-ensemble approach, our simulations show that the retreat is mainly initiated by the arrival of warm water but sustained and accelerated by the glacier's position over deeper bed troughs and vigorous calving. We highlight the need for models of ice mélange to project glacier behavior under rapid calving regimes.

Satellites observe glacier committing 'ice piracy'

A glacier in Antarctica is committing 'ice piracy' -- stealing ice from a neighbor -- in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists.

Antarctic glacier caught stealing ice from neighbour

Thanks largely to Copernicus Sentinel-1, scientists have discovered that a glacier in Antarctica is rapidly siphoning ice from neighbouring flows – at a pace never before seen. Until now, researchers believed that this process of ‘ice piracy’ in Antarctica took hundreds or even thousands of years, but these latest findings clearly demonstrate that this isn’t always the case.

Speed-up, slowdown, and redirection of ice flow on neighbouring ice streams in the Pope, Smith, and Kohler region of West Antarctica

Speed-up, slowdown, and redirection of ice flow on neighbouring ice streams in the Pope, Smith, and Kohler region of West Antarctica Heather L. Selley, Anna E. Hogg, Benjamin J. Davison, Pierre Dutrieux, and Thomas Slater The Cryosphere, 19, 1725–1738, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1725-2025, 2025 We used satellite observations to measure recent changes in ice speed and flow direction in the Pope, Smith, and Kohler region of West Antarctica (2005–2022). We found substantial speed-up on seven ice streams of up to 87 %. However, Kohler West Glacier has slowed by 10 %, due to the redirection of ice flow into its rapidly thinning neighbour. This process of “ice piracy” has not previously been directly observed on this rapid timescale and may influence future ice shelf and sheet mass changes.

Denmark summons US ambassador over Greenland spying report

US spy agencies have been told to step up espionage around Greenland, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Smart spongy device captures water from thin air

Engineers have invented a sponge-like device that captures water from thin air and then releases it in a cup using the sun's energy, even in low humidity where other technologies such as fog harvesting and radiative cooling have struggled. The water-from-air device remained effective across a broad range of humidity levels (30 -- 90%) and temperatures (5 -- 55 degrees Celsius).

Dangerous fungal spores can surf the stratosphere—and survive

Airborne device captures hitchhiking species from all over the world floating many kilometers above Earth’s surface

Impact of shrub branches on the shortwave vertical irradiance profile in snow

Impact of shrub branches on the shortwave vertical irradiance profile in snow Florent Domine, Mireille Quémener, Ludovick Bégin, Benjamin Bouchard, Valérie Dionne, Sébastien Jerczynski, Raphaël Larouche, Félix Lévesque-Desrosiers, Simon-Olivier Philibert, Marc-André Vigneault, Ghislain Picard, and Daniel C. Côté The Cryosphere, 19, 1757–1774, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1757-2025, 2025 Shrubs buried in snow absorb solar radiation and reduce irradiance in the snowpack. This decreases photochemical reaction rates and emissions to the atmosphere. By monitoring irradiance in snowpacks with and without shrubs, we conclude that shrubs absorb solar radiation as much as 140 ppb of soot and reduce irradiance by a factor of 2. Shrub expansion in the Arctic may therefore affect tropospheric composition during the snow season with climatic effects.

Western US spring runoff is older than you think

Hydrologists show most streamflow out of the West's mountains is old snowmelt on a multi-year underground journey. New study finds that spring runoff is on average 5 years old.

Biological particles may be crucial for inducing heavy rain

Atmospheric and climate scientists show that biological particles may induce rain events that could contribute to flooding and snowstorms, owing to their ability to precipitate ice formation in clouds. They call for an update of meteorological and climate models.

Loss of sea ice alters the colors of light in the ocean

The disappearance of sea ice in polar regions due to global warming not only increases the amount of light entering the ocean, but also changes its color. These changes have far-reaching consequences for photosynthetic organisms such as ice algae and phytoplankton.

Cell cycle duration determines oncogenic transformation capacity

Nature, Published online: 30 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08935-x

Plant diversity dynamics over space and time in a warming Arctic

Nature, Published online: 30 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08946-8

Biomass launch highlights

Video: 00:02:59

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).

In orbit, this latest Earth Explorer mission will provide vital insights into the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.

Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.

Access the related broadcast quality video material.

United Airlines grows highest-end Polaris airport lounge by 50% in battle for wealthy customers

United has been expanding its Polaris lounges in Chicago and Newark to fit more customers.

Replay: Biomass launch coverage

Video: 01:54:04

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).

In orbit, this latest Earth Explorer mission will provide vital insights into the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.

Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.

Access the related broadcast quality video material.

Launch of ESA’s Biomass mission from Kourou

Video: 00:00:00

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).

In orbit, this latest Earth Explorer mission will provide vital insights into the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.

Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.

ESA’s Biomass mission launches on Vega-C

Video: 00:02:01

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite has launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).

In orbit, this latest Earth Explorer mission will provide vital insights into the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.

Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.

Modern farming has carved away earth faster than ancient ice sheets

Minnesota study adds to growing evidence of human-accelerated erosion, which could jeopardize agriculture

Cloud software vendors Atlassian, Snowflake and Workday are betting on security startup Veza

Veza raised $108 million in a new funding round, with participation from some of the leading cloud software vendors.

Brief communication: Storstrømmen Glacier, northeastern Greenland, primed for end-of-decade surge

Brief communication: Storstrømmen Glacier, northeastern Greenland, primed for end-of-decade surge Jonas K. Andersen, Rasmus P. Meyer, Flora S. Huiban, Mads L. Dømgaard, Romain Millan, and Anders A. Bjørk The Cryosphere, 19, 1717–1724, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1717-2025, 2025 Storstrømmen Glacier in northeastern Greenland goes through cycles of sudden flow speed-ups (known as surges) followed by long quiet phases. It is currently in its quiet phase, but recent measurements suggest it may be nearing conditions for a new surge, possibly between 2027 and 2040. We also observed several lake drainages that caused brief increases in glacier flow but did not trigger a surge. Continued monitoring is essential to understand how these processes influence glacier behavior.

A forensic investigator of glacier change

Nature, Published online: 28 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01300-y

Greenland not a piece of property, says PM after Trump threats

Jens-Frederick Nielsen says the island must "stand together" with Denmark during a highly symbolic visit to Copenhagen.

'Cryosphere meltdown' will impact Arctic marine carbon cycles and ecosystems, new study warns

A new study has found worrying signs that climate change may be undermining the capacity of Arctic fjords to serve as effective carbon sinks. The findings suggest that the capacity of polar oceans to remove carbon from the atmosphere may be reduced as the world continues to heat up.

Glacial ring forms on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada

Glacial ring forms on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada Shannon M. Hibbard, Gordon R. Osinski, Etienne Godin, Chimira Andres, Antero Kukko, Shawn Chartrand, Anna Grau Galofre, A. Mark Jellinek, and Wendy Boucher The Cryosphere, 19, 1695–1716, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1695-2025, 2025 This study investigates enigmatic ring forms found on Axel Heiberg Island (Umingmat Nunaat) in Nunavut, Canada. These ring forms comprised a series of ridges and troughs creating individual rings or brain-like patterns. We aim to identify how they form and assess the past climate conditions necessary for their formation. We use surface and subsurface observations and comparisons to other periglacial and glacial ring forms to infer a formation mechanism and propose a glacial origin. 

Automated snow cover detection on mountain glaciers using spaceborne imagery and machine learning

Automated snow cover detection on mountain glaciers using spaceborne imagery and machine learning Rainey Aberle, Ellyn Enderlin, Shad O'Neel, Caitlyn Florentine, Louis Sass, Adam Dickson, Hans-Peter Marshall, and Alejandro Flores The Cryosphere, 19, 1675–1693, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1675-2025, 2025 Tracking seasonal snow on glaciers is critical for understanding glacier health. Yet previous work has not directly compared machine learning algorithms for snow classification across satellite image products. To address this, we developed a new automated workflow for tracking seasonal snow on glaciers using several image products and machine learning models. Applying this method can help provide insights into glacier health, water resources, and the effects of climate change on snow cover.

Largest imaging spectro-polarimeter achieves first light at solar telescope

The U.S. National Science Foundation Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the world's most powerful solar telescope, operated by the NSF National Solar Observatory (NSO) near the summit of Maui's Haleakalā, reached a major milestone: achieving first light with its most advanced instrument, the new Visible Tunable Filter (VTF).

Changes in Antarctic surface conditions and potential for ice shelf hydrofracturing from 1850 to 2200

Changes in Antarctic surface conditions and potential for ice shelf hydrofracturing from 1850 to 2200 Nicolas C. Jourdain, Charles Amory, Christoph Kittel, and Gaël Durand The Cryosphere, 19, 1641–1674, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1641-2025, 2025 A mixed statistical–physical approach is used to reproduce the behaviour of a regional climate model. From that, we estimate the contribution of snowfall and melting at the surface of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to changes in global mean sea level. We also investigate the impact of surface melting in a warmer climate on the stability of the Antarctic ice shelves that provide back stress on the ice flow to the ocean.

Mapping seasonal snow melting in Karakoram using SAR and topographic data

Mapping seasonal snow melting in Karakoram using SAR and topographic data Shiyi Li, Lanqing Huang, Philipp Bernhard, and Irena Hajnsek The Cryosphere, 19, 1621–1639, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1621-2025, 2025 This work presents an improved method for seasonal wet snow mapping in Karakoram using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and topographic data. This method enables robust wet snow classification in complex mountainous terrain. Large-scale wet snow maps were generated using the proposed method, covering three major water basins in Karakoram over 4 years (2017–2021). Crucial snow variables were further derived from the maps and provided valuable insights on regional snow melting dynamics.

Fingerprints of city-sized icebergs found off UK coast

Deep tracks gouged in the seafloor off the coast of Scotland could help us understand Antarctica today.

Why are Patagonian glaciers rapidly losing mass?

Over the past two decades, satellite-based planetary observations have recorded rapid mass loss of Patagonian glaciers, contributing approximately 0.07 mm per year to global sea-level rise. A study links this mass loss to a poleward shift of subtropical high-pressure systems. This large-scale atmospheric circulation change brings more warm air to Patagonia, thereby accelerating glacier melt.

Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions

Scientists believe that the motion of Earth's continents through plate tectonics has been largely steady over millions of years. New research, however, suggests this drift can speed up or slow down over relatively short time periods.

Lifting the canopy on Earth’s forests

Video: 00:02:22

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass  mission has been designed to shed new light on the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the forest canopy and whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.

Glacier damage evolution over ice flow timescales

Glacier damage evolution over ice flow timescales Meghana Ranganathan, Alexander A. Robel, Alexander Huth, and Ravindra Duddu The Cryosphere, 19, 1599–1619, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1599-2025, 2025 The rate of ice loss from ice sheets is controlled by the flow of ice from the center of the ice sheet and by the internal fracturing of the ice. These processes are coupled; fractures reduce the viscosity of ice and enable more rapid flow, and rapid flow causes the fracturing of ice. We present a simplified way of representing damage that is applicable to long-timescale flow estimates. Using this model, we find that including fracturing in an ice sheet simulation can increase the loss of ice by 13–29 %.

Effects of glacial forcing on lithospheric motion and ridge spreading

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08846-x

Major dust-up for water in the Colorado River

Dust-on-snow is a major threat to water in the Colorado River, yet no snowmelt forecasts integrate dust-accelerated melt. Using pioneering remote sensing techniques, new research is the first to capture how dust impacts the headwaters of the Colorado River system. The new method could help predict the timing and magnitude of snow darkening and impacts on melt rates on snowpacks, in real time.

Australia’s gen Z men aren’t monsters in the making – they just feel short-changed | Intifar Chowdhury

Instead of alarmism or shaming, we need to create spaces where young men feel heard, challenged and supported

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For years, we’ve looked at democracies like the US, Germany and South Korea, disturbed by what a nation divided along gender and generation lines could look like. Australia, by comparison, seemed less polarised, but new research hints that something’s starting to shift – slowly, unevenly and with plenty of caveats – among young Australians too.

But let’s not jump the gun – because the story is more complicated than it first appears, and framing “young men” as a purely reactionary force isn’t going to get us anywhere helpful.

Arctic researchers need to find ways to keep working together

Nature, Published online: 22 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01239-0

Did it rain or snow on ancient Mars? New study suggests it did

Visit ancient Mars—a surprisingly temperate planet where snow or rain falls from the sky, and rivers rush down valleys to feed hundreds of lakes.

Searching for life on Mars in the snow and ice

The surface of Mars is extremely cold, irradiated, and desiccated. But at one time, the planet was much warmer and wetter, with flowing water, lakes, and even an ocean covering most of its northern hemisphere. Because of this, scientists speculate that life may have emerged on Mars billions of years ago and could still be there today. Ever since the Viking 1 and 2 missions landed on the surface in 1976, the search for evidence of past (and maybe present) life has been ongoing.

Could AI text alerts help save snow leopards from extinction?

In Pakistan, it's hoped newly-developed AI cameras could warn villagers via text to move their livestock if snow leopards enter the area.

It’s Springtime on Polaris-9b, and the Exoflowers Are Blooming

An artist imagines the flora of distant, nonexistent worlds.

Sexual misconduct helpline offers support for NSF community

The resource is an expansion of the agency’s efforts to address harassment in the U.S. Antarctic Program

PUNCH mission instruments collect first images

The Southwest Research Institute-led Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission collected its first images following its March 11 launch into polar orbit around Earth. The mission's four small suitcase-sized spacecraft will act as a single virtual instrument 8,000 miles across to image the solar corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, as it transitions into the solar wind that fills and defines our solar system.

Heavy snow blocks Alpine resorts in Switzerland and France

A Swiss ski resort is cut off and people have been told to stay indoors in the French resort of Tignes.

A reconstruction of the ice thickness of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet north of 70° S

A reconstruction of the ice thickness of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet north of 70° S Kaian Shahateet, Johannes J. Fürst, Francisco Navarro, Thorsten Seehaus, Daniel Farinotti, and Matthias Braun The Cryosphere, 19, 1577–1597, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1577-2025, 2025 In the present work, we provide a new ice thickness reconstruction of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet north of 70º S using inversion modeling. This model consists of two steps: the first uses basic assumptions of the rheology of the glacier, and the second uses mass conservation to improve the reconstruction where the assumptions made previously are expected to fail. Validation with independent data showed that our reconstruction improved compared to other reconstructions that are available.

Resurrected pools, remnants of last ice age, attract wildlife in Norfolk

Seeds can germinate having been buried in sediments of ‘ghost ponds’ for thousands of years

Ghosts of the ice age are being resurrected in Norfolk. When the ice sheets retreated at the end of the last ice age, mounds of ice called pingos remained underground until they thawed and the soil slumped, leaving behind shallow hollows that filled with water.

These turned into swampy wetland habitats rich in plants and wildlife and Breckland, in Norfolk, became pocked with hundreds of these pingo pools, although many of them were later filled in for farmland and became lost.

The impact of Antarctic ice-shelf cavities on Earth system dynamics

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02307-z

Cataclysmic variable ASASSN–14dx contains a massive pulsating white dwarf, observations find

An international team of astronomers has performed optical photometric, polarimetric and spectroscopic observations of a cataclysmic variable system known as ASASSN–14dx. Results of the new observations, published April 9 on the arXiv preprint server, indicate that the system harbors a massive pulsating white dwarf.

Ice sheet model simulations reveal that polythermal ice conditions existed across the northeastern USA during the Last Glacial Maximum

Ice sheet model simulations reveal that polythermal ice conditions existed across the northeastern USA during the Last Glacial Maximum Joshua K. Cuzzone, Aaron Barth, Kelsey Barker, and Mathieu Morlighem The Cryosphere, 19, 1559–1575, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1559-2025, 2025 We use an ice sheet model to simulate the Last Glacial Maximum conditions of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) across the northeastern United States. A complex thermal history existed for the LIS that caused high erosion across most of the NE USA but prevented erosion across high-elevation mountain peaks and areas where ice flow was slow. This has implications for geologic studies which rely on the erosional nature of the LIS to reconstruct its glacial history and landscape evolution.

Pioneering research reveals Arctic matter pathways poised for major shifts amidst climate change

A new study has shed unprecedented light on the highly variable and climate-sensitive routes that substances from Siberian rivers use to travel across the Arctic Ocean. The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates.

Impact of snow thermal conductivity schemes on pan-Arctic permafrost dynamics in the Community Land Model version 5.0

Impact of snow thermal conductivity schemes on pan-Arctic permafrost dynamics in the Community Land Model version 5.0 Adrien Damseaux, Heidrun Matthes, Victoria R. Dutch, Leanne Wake, and Nick Rutter The Cryosphere, 19, 1539–1558, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1539-2025, 2025 Models often underestimate the role of snow cover in permafrost regions, leading to soil temperatures and permafrost dynamics inaccuracies. Through the use of a snow thermal conductivity scheme better adapted to this region, we mitigated soil temperature biases and permafrost extent overestimation within a land surface model. Our study sheds light on the importance of refining snow-related processes in models to enhance our understanding of permafrost dynamics in the context of climate change.

US fires Greenland military base chief for 'undermining' Vance

The US military said it had lost confidence in Colonel Susannah Meyers' ability to lead.

Danish shoppers boycott U.S. products as Greenland — and trade — tensions escalate

Incensed by President Donald Trump's posturing over Greenland and sweeping trade tariffs, Danish shoppers are turning their backs on American products.

Regional conditions determine thresholds of accelerated Antarctic basal melt in climate projection

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02306-0

Mapping mercury contamination in penguins of the Southern Ocean

In 1962, when environmentalist and author Rachel Carson penned 'Silent Spring,' alerting the world to the dangers of the pesticide DDT, it was the reproductive threat to birds -- the bald eagle in particular -- that spurred people to action. Six decades later, researchers are taking the measure of another global environmental pollutant by drawing parallels to the crisis Carson identified. This time, the pollutant is mercury, and the sentinels are penguins living in the farthest reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Giant electrocaloric effect in high-polar-entropy perovskite oxides

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08768-8

Daily briefing: Tonka bean trees survive lightning strikes that kill their competitors

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01186-w

Does US science have a future in Antarctica? Trump cuts threaten to cancel fieldwork and more

Nature, Published online: 08 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01055-6

Researchers discover why plastic sheds dangerous fragments

The world is littered with trillions of micro- and nanoscopic pieces of plastic. These can be smaller than a virus -- just the right size to disrupt cells and even alter DNA. Researchers find them almost everywhere they've looked, from Antarctic snow to human blood. In a new study, scientists have delineated the molecular process that causes these small pieces to break off in such large quantities.

Separating the albedo-reducing effect of different light-absorbing particles on snow using deep learning

Separating the albedo-reducing effect of different light-absorbing particles on snow using deep learning Lou-Anne Chevrollier, Adrien Wehrlé, Joseph M. Cook, Norbert Pirk, Liane G. Benning, Alexandre M. Anesio, and Martyn Tranter The Cryosphere, 19, 1527–1538, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1527-2025, 2025 Light-absorbing particles (LAPs) are often present as a mixture on snow surfaces and are important to disentangle because their darkening effects vary but also because the processes governing their presence and accumulation on snow surfaces are different. This study presents a novel method to retrieve the concentration and albedo-reducing effect of different LAPs present at the snow surface from surface spectral albedo. The method is then successfully applied to ground observations on seasonal snow.

Iranian president sacks deputy for 'lavish' Antarctic cruise

President says trip by Shahram Dabiri, the vice-president for parliamentary affairs, was "indefensible" while Iran's economy suffers.

South Korea's president is out - but he leaves behind a polarised country

A pro-Yoon fringe movement, stoked by right-wing YouTubers, has become more energised and extreme.

Four space tourists return to Earth after a private flight over the poles

Four space tourists who orbited the north and south poles returned to Earth on Friday, splashing down in the Pacific to end their privately funded polar tour.

Long-term development of a perennial firn aquifer on the Lomonosovfonna ice cap, Svalbard

Long-term development of a perennial firn aquifer on the Lomonosovfonna ice cap, Svalbard Tim van den Akker, Ward van Pelt, Rickard Petterson, and Veijo A. Pohjola The Cryosphere, 19, 1513–1525, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1513-2025, 2025 Liquid water can persist within old snow on glaciers and ice caps if it can percolate into the snow before it refreezes. Snow is a good insulator, and it is porous where the percolated water can be stored. If this happens, the water piles up and forms a groundwater-like system. Here, we show observations of such a groundwater-like system found in Svalbard. We demonstrate that it behaves like a groundwater system and use that to model the development of the water table from 1957 until the present day.

Inter-model differences in 21st century glacier runoff for the world's major river basins

Inter-model differences in 21st century glacier runoff for the world's major river basins Finn Wimberly, Lizz Ultee, Lilian Schuster, Matthias Huss, David R. Rounce, Fabien Maussion, Sloan Coats, Jonathan Mackay, and Erik Holmgren The Cryosphere, 19, 1491–1511, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1491-2025, 2025 Glacier models have historically been used to understand glacier melt’s contribution to sea level rise. The capacity to project seasonal glacier runoff is a relatively recent development for these models. In this study we provide the first model intercomparison of runoff projections for the glacier evolution models capable of simulating future runoff globally. We compare model projections from 2000 to 2100 for all major river basins larger than 3000 km2 with over 30 km2 of initial glacier cover.

Denmark and Greenland show united front against US 'annexation' threats

The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the US "cannot annex other countries".

How hidden lakes threaten Antarctic Ice Sheet stability

For decades, satellites have played a crucial role in our understanding of the remote polar regions. The ongoing loss of Antarctic ice, owing to the climate crisis, is, sadly, no longer surprising. However, satellites do more than just track the accelerating flow of glaciers towards the ocean and measure ice thickness.

New research highlights how ESA’s CryoSat mission has been used to uncover the hidden impact of subglacial lakes – vast reservoirs of water buried deep under the ice – that can suddenly drain into the ocean in dramatic outbursts and affect ice loss.

Southern Ocean warming will mean a wetter West Coast, US

As global temperatures warm, the Southern Ocean -- between Antarctica and other continents -- will eventually release heat absorbed from the atmosphere, leading to projected long-term increases in precipitation over East Asia and the Western U.S., regardless of climate mitigation efforts.

Metal Contaminants From Mines Lurk in Rocky Mountain Snow

Learn about the worsening state of snowpack in the northern Rocky Mountains., which has been contaminated by mercury and other metals from nearby mines.

Chicago-Sized Iceberg Breaks Away From Ice Sheet, Revealing Thriving Ecosystem

Learn more about the ecosystem that’s remained under the ice for centuries.

Rocky Mountain snow is contaminated, study shows

Mountain snowpacks accumulate snow throughout the winter, building up stores of water that will supply communities across the American West throughout the long dry season. Now, a new study shows that as storms carry snow to the Rocky Mountains, they are also bringing mercury and other contaminants from mines in the region. The research helps scientists understand how contaminants are spread by atmospheric circulation and has implications for snowpack preservation and illuminating the lasting environmental impact of mining activities.

Lunar polar regions could have microbes, modeling study suggests

Could microbes survive in the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of the moon? This is what a recent study presented at the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC 2025) hopes to address as a team of researchers from the United States and Canada investigated the likelihood of long-term survival for microbes in the PSR areas of the moon, which are craters located at the poles that don't see sunlight due to the moon's small axial tilt.

Bitcoin investor buys an entire SpaceX flight for the ultimate polar adventure

A bitcoin investor who bought a SpaceX flight for himself and three polar explorers blasted off Monday night on the first rocket ride to carry people over the North and South poles.

Recent observations and glacier modeling point towards near-complete glacier loss in western Austria (Ötztal and Stubai mountain range) if 1.5 °C is not met

Recent observations and glacier modeling point towards near-complete glacier loss in western Austria (Ötztal and Stubai mountain range) if 1.5 °C is not met Lea Hartl, Patrick Schmitt, Lilian Schuster, Kay Helfricht, Jakob Abermann, and Fabien Maussion The Cryosphere, 19, 1431–1452, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1431-2025, 2025 We use regional observations of glacier area and volume change to inform glacier evolution modeling in the Ötztal and Stubai range (Austrian Alps) until 2100 in different climate scenarios. Glaciers in the region lost 23 % of their volume between 2006 and 2017. Under current warming trajectories, glacier loss in the region is expected to be near-total by 2075. We show that integrating regional calibration and validation data in glacier models is important to improve confidence in projections.

The source, quantity, and spatial distribution of interfacial water during glide-snow avalanche release: experimental evidence from field monitoring

The source, quantity, and spatial distribution of interfacial water during glide-snow avalanche release: experimental evidence from field monitoring Amelie Fees, Michael Lombardo, Alec van Herwijnen, Peter Lehmann, and Jürg Schweizer The Cryosphere, 19, 1453–1468, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1453-2025, 2025 Glide-snow avalanches release at the soil–snow interface due to a loss of friction, which is suspected to be linked to interfacial water. The importance of the interfacial water was investigated with a spatio-temporal monitoring setup for soil and local snow on an avalanche-prone slope. Seven glide-snow avalanches were released on the monitoring grid (winter seasons 2021/22 to 2023/24) and provided insights into the source, quantity, and spatial distribution of interfacial water before avalanche release.

Spectral characteristics of seismic ambient vibrations reveal changes in the subglacial environment of Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Switzerland

Spectral characteristics of seismic ambient vibrations reveal changes in the subglacial environment of Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Switzerland Janneke van Ginkel, Fabian Walter, Fabian Lindner, Miroslav Hallo, Matthias Huss, and Donat Fäh The Cryosphere, 19, 1469–1490, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1469-2025, 2025 This study on Glacier de la Plaine Morte in Switzerland employs various passive seismic analysis methods to identify complex hydraulic behaviours at the ice–bedrock interface. In 4 months of seismic records, we detect spatio-temporal variations in the glacier's basal interface, following the drainage of an ice-marginal lake. We identify a low-velocity layer, whose properties are determined using modelling techniques. This low-velocity layer results from temporary water storage subglacially.

4 astronauts to be the first to orbit the poles on a privately funded SpaceX mission

SpaceX is planning a launch as early as Monday evening. If successful, it will mark the first crewed mission to polar orbit and the first mission to cultivate mushrooms as a crop

Thinner Arctic sea ice may affect global ocean circulation

One of the ocean currents in the Arctic Ocean is at risk of disappearing this century because of climate change, according to a new study. As a result, the North Atlantic could be flooded with freshwater which would weaken the global ocean circulation.

Battle over Greenland heats up with Denmark's PM set to visit just days after JD Vance

The battle over Greenland is set to intensify this week as Denmark's prime minister visits the Arctic island days after U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

SpaceX to launch private astronauts on first crewed polar orbit

SpaceX is set to launch the first human spaceflight directly over Earth's polar regions on Monday—a days-long, privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts.

ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite hailed as excellent

Launched just seven months ago, ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite has been proving how the New Space approach can accelerate the development of missions capable of delivering detailed temperature and humidity profiles for short-term weather forecasts.

Moreover, the impact of this tiny prototype satellite goes even further – its measuring instrument has been recognised as able to provide data that’s on a par with traditional large missions.

Taking in the first signs of spring on a picnic in New York's Adirondack Mountains

NPR's Brian Mann and North Country Public Radio's David Sommerstein head into the high country for a spring picnic surrounded by sun — and snow.

First orbital rocket launched from Europe crashes after launch

Failure of Spectrum rocket seconds after blast-off deals blow to continent’s effort to build new space economy

The first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off on Sunday, dealing a blow to the continent’s effort to build a new space economy.

The Spectrum rocket, developed by the German startup Isar Aerospace, tilted over and crashed back to Earth with a powerful boom just after launching from Norway’s Andøya spaceport in the Arctic, in live video broadcast on YouTube.

JD Vance's ominous pitch to Greenland

Many in the Danish territory feel bullied by the US, Andrew Harding finds on a trip to Nuuk.

When glaciers roamed Mars

The surface of Mars is known for being an extremely cold, desiccated, and irradiated place. But as its many surface features attest, the red planet was once a warmer, wetter place with flowing water and glaciers. Today, most of the remaining water on the surface is largely confined to its polar regions in the form of ice caps, permafrost, and subsurface glaciers. Nevertheless, the seasonal melting and freezing of this ice still impacts the Martian environment and offers clues about glacial activity in the past.

Nature’s secret soundscape: listen with me to the world’s quietest creatures

While humans are more boisterous than ever, other species are talking too – this is what you will hear if you really listen

It’s a spring day in northern Sweden, just 100km (62 miles) below the Arctic Circle. I tuck my sound gear into my backpack, clip into my cross-country skis and glide out on to a frozen lake, looking for a small ice-fishing hole.

It’s a quiet day, with no snowmobiles or other skiers about. Conditions are perfect for the fishing I hope to do: not for dinner, but for sounds.

From Greenland to Europe and Senegal: the partial solar eclipse – in pictures

The moon partly obscured the sun during an phenomenon that could be seen across the northern hemisphere

JD Vance accuses Denmark of failing to keep Greenland secure as he slams European allies

Vance's visit comes as President Donald Trump hardens his rhetoric about taking control of Greenland.

Vance scolds Denmark during Greenland trip

Denmark's prime minister said the visit by the US VP and other top officials  showed a "lack of respect".

Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing

A new study measured water vapor in Greenland's air, collecting data crucial for improving climate models and forecasting Arctic changes.

Russia's Putin says it would be a 'profound mistake' to dismiss Trump's push for Greenland

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned it would be foolish to dismiss U.S. President Donald Trump's push for control over Greenland.

Spring 2021 sea ice transport in the southern Beaufort Sea occurred during coastal-lead opening events

Spring 2021 sea ice transport in the southern Beaufort Sea occurred during coastal-lead opening events MacKenzie E. Jewell, Jennifer K. Hutchings, and Angela C. Bliss The Cryosphere, 19, 1413–1430, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1413-2025, 2025 We quantify the contribution of sea ice drift during coastal-lead events to seasonal ice transport in the Beaufort Sea. Data from GPS tracker buoys deployed as part of the Sea Ice Dynamic Experiment (SIDEx) in spring 2021 show that sea ice in the southern Beaufort Sea became more responsive to wind forcing during fracturing events detected from satellite observations. Nearly all the spring 2021 sea ice transport occurred during these events, highlighting their importance at seasonal timescales.

National Weather Service Alaska Sea Ice Program: gridded ice concentration maps for the Alaskan Arctic

National Weather Service Alaska Sea Ice Program: gridded ice concentration maps for the Alaskan Arctic Astrid Pacini, Michael Steele, and Mary-Beth Schreck The Cryosphere, 19, 1391–1411, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1391-2025, 2025 While sea ice concentration data are critically important for climate research, obtaining high-resolution data remains a challenge. Here we present and validate the US National Weather Service Alaska Sea Ice Program (ASIP) ice maps. These maps are shown to be highly accurate when compared to in situ observations and to outperform a passive-microwave-based product, especially at low concentrations. Therefore, ASIP data provide an exciting new tool to study ice conditions in the Pacific Arctic.

Narwhal sightings are rare. Scientists just saw them use their tusks in new ways

What are the narwhals up to? Generally, we don't really know! They are mysterious creatures. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce talks about new, rare drone footage scientists captured of arctic narwhals. The video sparked new ideas for how they use their tusks.Read Nell's full piece.Love mysterious critters and want to hear more? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

Greenlanders prepare for uncomfortable visit from US vice-president

Greenland is giving the cold shoulder to JD Vance and his wife, amid Trump's pledge to take control of the island.

Putin says Greenland 'nothing to do with Russia' in nod to US

Speaking in the Arctic, Russia's president said Trump's plans were "serious" but nothing to do with Moscow.

Constrained Earth system models show a stronger reduction in future Northern Hemisphere snowmelt water

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 28 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02308-y

Ros Atkins on... Trump's plan for Greenland

US Vice-President JD Vance is visiting Greenland on Friday - but why is the US so interested in the territory?

Melting ice, more rain drive Southern Ocean cooling

Researchers found increased meltwater and rain explain 60% of a decades-long mismatch between predicted and observed temperatures in the ocean around Antarctica.

Damaging cluster of UK winter storms driven by swirling polar vortex miles above Earth

Powerful winter storms which led to deaths and power outages in the UK and Ireland were made more likely by an intense swirling vortex of winds miles above the Arctic, say scientists.

What does the impurity variability at the microscale represent in ice cores? Insights from a conceptual approach

What does the impurity variability at the microscale represent in ice cores? Insights from a conceptual approach Piers Larkman, Rachael H. Rhodes, Nicolas Stoll, Carlo Barbante, and Pascal Bohleber The Cryosphere, 19, 1373–1390, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1373-2025, 2025 Impurities in ice cores can be preferentially located at the boundaries between crystals of ice, impacting the interpretation of high-resolution data collected from ice core samples. Through use of a modelling framework, we demonstrate that one-dimensional signals can be significantly affected by this association, meaning high-resolution measurements must be carefully designed. Accounting for this effect is important for interpreting ice core data, especially for deep ice samples.

Trump’s bid for Greenland threatens to destabilize Arctic research

Nature, Published online: 27 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00983-7

Ice Quakes Cause Glacial Ice to Flow Toward the Ocean

What are ice quakes? Learn how the discovery of ice quakes deep within the Northeast Greenland Ice Sheet is helping scientists better understand the dynamics of glacial ice.

Blurring the line between rain and snow: Limits of meteorological classification

A new study uncovers a critical challenge in accurately classifying precipitation as rain or snow using surface weather data. Accurately identifying precipitation phase is critical for weather forecasting, hydrologic modeling, and climate research, with significant implications for transportation. At temperatures near freezing, however, all traditional methods struggle to accurately predict rain and snow due to the meteorological similarity of the two phases. Leveraging multi-source data integration rather than relying on surface weather data alone may offer improvements.

Inland migration of near-surface crevasses in the Amundsen Sea Sector, West Antarctica

Inland migration of near-surface crevasses in the Amundsen Sea Sector, West Antarctica Andrew O. Hoffman, Knut Christianson, Ching-Yao Lai, Ian Joughin, Nicholas Holschuh, Elizabeth Case, Jonathan Kingslake, and the GHOST science team The Cryosphere, 19, 1353–1372, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1353-2025, 2025 We use satellite and ice-penetrating radar technology to segment crevasses in the Amundsen Sea Embayment. Inspection of satellite time series reveals inland expansion of crevasses where surface stresses have increased. We develop a simple model for the strength of densifying snow and show that these crevasses are likely restricted to the near surface. This result bridges discrepancies between satellite and lab experiments and reveals the importance of porosity on surface crevasse formation.

In the Arctic, microalgae are doing the limbo

Microalgae are tiny organisms that convert energy from sunlight into fuel. The arctic ecosystem depends on them. In springtime, the algae bloom brilliant shades of green and draw tiny crustaceans, fish, birds and more to arctic waters. But what happens in wintertime, when the sun goes down and darkness reins for months? In the depths of the polar night, biogeochemist Clara Hoppe has found evidence that some microalgae are still ready to photosynthesize. Today on the show: how tiny microalgae limbo for their lives and come out more powerful than scientists ever imagined. Want to hear more stories of nature pushing the boundaries of what scientists previously thought possible? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

JD Vance will join wife on Greenland trip amid backlash

Greenland's leaders have criticised planned visits by US officials after Trump's threats to annex the island.

‘Perfect space crop’: Australian company to attempt to grow first mushrooms in orbit

Experiment onboard upcoming SpaceX mission will examine how nutrient-rich oyster mushrooms grow in microgravity

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An Australian company will attempt to be the first to grow a crop of mushrooms in space, aboard SpaceX’s Fram2 mission set to launch in early April.

In an experiment aboard Fram2, the first human spaceflight mission to orbit Earth’s polar regions, the Australian firm FOODiQ Global is aiming to grow oyster mushrooms in microgravity.

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Arctic sea ice sets a record low maximum in 2025

SpaceX targets end of month for private astronaut polar orbit mission Fram2

With the drama around the first human spaceflight of the year behind it, SpaceX is back to the business of sending private customers to space.

The big idea: should you dump your toxic friend?

Self-help pundits advise us to cut difficult people out of our lives, but it’s not the only option

It was snowing and the heating had broken the day I visited the Mass Observation Archive in Brighton. I sat in my coat, woolly hat and fingerless gloves, my breath clouding the air. Before me were nearly two hundred anonymous letters written in 2007, most by hand, reflecting on the “ups and downs” of friendship.

Mass Observation is a treasure trove for historians like me. Since 1939, it has sent out loose questionnaires called “directives” to its pool of volunteer writers across the UK, who respond by describing their daily lives, opinions and feelings. Most who replied to the directive on friendship were women over 60. As the hours passed, my fingers grew numb but I didn’t care. It was so absorbing to read their intimate accounts of the pleasures and the usually unspoken difficulties of friendship.

Greenland condemns planned visits by Usha Vance and Trump adviser

The pair will make separate trips this week, after threats from the US president to take over the island.

Solar eclipse to follow lunar display in March

In parts of North America and Greenland, up to 90% of the sun’s fiery surface may be obscured

Eclipses often come in pairs. A lunar eclipse is usually accompanied by a solar eclipse two weeks later, or vice versa, and this month is no exception. On 14 March, the moon was totally eclipsed by Earth; now it is the turn of the sun.

There will be no total solar eclipse visible from the surface of Earth, but in certain parts of North America and Greenland up to 90% of its fiery surface may be obscured. For example, in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut in Canada, the sun will have 92% of its surface covered.

The glaciers of the Dolomites: the last 40 years of melting

The glaciers of the Dolomites: the last 40 years of melting Andrea Securo, Costanza Del Gobbo, Giovanni Baccolo, Carlo Barbante, Michele Citterio, Fabrizio De Blasi, Marco Marcer, Mauro Valt, and Renato R. Colucci The Cryosphere, 19, 1335–1352, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1335-2025, 2025 We have reconstructed the multi-decadal (1980s–2023) ice mass changes for all the current mountain glaciers in the Dolomites. We used historical aerial photographs, drone surveys, and lidar to fill the glaciological data gap for the region. We observed an alarming decline in both glacier area and volume, with some of the glaciers showing smaller losses due to local topography and debris cover feedback. We strongly recommend more specific monitoring of these glaciers.

Glaciers are not just blocks of ice — plans to save them mustn’t overlook their hidden life

Nature, Published online: 24 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00897-4

NRL's narrow field imager launches on NASA's PUNCH mission

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Narrow Field Imager (NFI) was launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as a part of NASA's Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on March 11 and deployed from Falcon 9 on March 12.

Crisis in Antarctica: can science teams ever prepare for isolated assignments?

Alleged assault at polar base shows the importance of research on cabin fever – including on future Mars missions

South Africa has a tight regime for scientists wanting to “overwinter” in Antarctica. The 13-month assignment to an isolated research base on the top of a cliff edge is, as the environment ministry drily puts it, “testing”. Average annual temperatures are -16C but drop much lower during the winter darkness.

All applicants are subjected to psychometric analysis “to ensure they are able to cope with the isolation, and can work and live with others in the confined space of the bases”, said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. “Only candidates who do not have any negative outcomes from all the background evaluations will be considered.”

Quantifying radiative effects of light-absorbing particle deposition on snow at the SnowMIP sites

Quantifying radiative effects of light-absorbing particle deposition on snow at the SnowMIP sites Enrico Zorzetto, Paul Ginoux, Sergey Malyshev, and Elena Shevliakova The Cryosphere, 19, 1313–1334, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1313-2025, 2025 Light-absorbing particle (LAP) deposition on snow leads to a darkening of the snow surface and can thus accelerate snow melt. Understanding the extent to which different types of LAPs contribute to snow melt is important to both predict changes in water availability and improve global climate model predictions. Here, we extend a recently developed snow model to account for the deposition of LAPs in the snowpack and evaluate the effect of snow darkening on accelerating snow melt.

Shrinking Andean glaciers threaten water supply of 90 million people, global policy makers warn

Scientists will warn policymakers that the shrinking glaciers of the Andes threaten the water supply of 90 million people on the South American continent at the first-ever World Day for Glaciers hosted by UNESCO in Paris.

New coasts emerging from the retreat of Northern Hemisphere marine-terminating glaciers in the twenty-first century

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02282-5

Glaciers give way to new coasts

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02275-4

Sea ice reduction in the Barents–Kara Sea enhances June precipitation in the Yangtze River basin

Sea ice reduction in the Barents–Kara Sea enhances June precipitation in the Yangtze River basin Tianli Xie, Zhen-Qiang Zhou, Renhe Zhang, Bingyi Wu, and Peng Zhang The Cryosphere, 19, 1303–1312, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1303-2025, 2025 As the Arctic warms, changes in sea ice and sea surface temperature are altering global climate patterns. Our study links Barents–Kara Sea (BKS) ice loss and rising sea surface temperatures to increased summer rainfall in the Yangtze River basin. The thermal forcing from the BKS triggers a Rossby wave train that enhances moisture transport and anomalous ascending motions, leading to increased rainfall. Understanding this connection is crucial for predicting summer rainfall in East Asia.

Psychologists in touch with Antarctic base after assault allegation, South Africa confirms

Ministers also investigating sexual harassment claim at country’s isolated Sanae IV research station

Psychologists are in “constant” contact with a South African science team isolated for months at a base in Antarctica after physical assault and sexual harassment allegations were made, a government minister has said.

The environment minister, Dion George, whose department manages the country’s Antarctic programme, confirmed to the Guardian that psychologists and other experts were in “direct and constant” communication with the nine-member research team.

Electroluminescence and energy transfer mediated by hyperbolic polaritons

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08627-6

Hyperbolic phonon-polariton electroluminescence in 2D heterostructures

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08686-9

Global sea-level rise in the early Holocene revealed from North Sea peats

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08769-7

Author Correction: Endocytosis in the axon initial segment maintains neuronal polarity

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08837-y

Nighthawk: A proposed Mars chopper mission over glaciers and canyons

Ingenuity proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a helicopter can operate on another planet. Over 72 flights, the little quadcopter that could captivated the imagination of space exploration fans everywhere. But, several factors limited it, and researchers at NASA think they can do better.

Scientists at Antarctic base rocked by alleged assault

A spokesperson for the South African government told the BBC there had been an assault at the station.

Do we still need reflectance? From radiance to snow properties in mountainous terrain: a case study with the EMIT imaging spectrometer

Do we still need reflectance? From radiance to snow properties in mountainous terrain: a case study with the EMIT imaging spectrometer Niklas Bohn, Edward H. Bair, Philip G. Brodrick, Nimrod Carmon, Robert O. Green, Thomas H. Painter, and David R. Thompson The Cryosphere, 19, 1279–1302, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1279-2025, 2025 A new type of Earth-observing satellite is measuring reflected sunlight in all its colors. These measurements can be used to characterize snow properties, which give us important information about climate change. In our work, we emphasize the difficulties of obtaining these properties from rough mountainous regions and present a solution to the problem. Our research was inspired by the growing number of new satellite technologies and the increasing challenges associated with climate change.

Inferring the seasonality of sea ice floes in the Weddell Sea using ICESat-2

Inferring the seasonality of sea ice floes in the Weddell Sea using ICESat-2 Mukund Gupta, Heather Regan, Younghyun Koo, Sean Minhui Tashi Chua, Xueke Li, and Petra Heil The Cryosphere, 19, 1241–1257, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1241-2025, 2025 The sea ice cover is composed of floes, whose shapes set the material properties of the pack. Here, we use a satellite product (ICESat-2) to investigate these floe shapes within the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. We find that floes tend to become smaller during the melt season, while their thickness distribution exhibits different behavior between the western and southern regions of the pack. These metrics will help calibrate models and improve our understanding of sea ice physics across scales.

Impacts of air fraction increase on Arctic sea ice density, freeboard, and thickness estimation during the melt season

Impacts of air fraction increase on Arctic sea ice density, freeboard, and thickness estimation during the melt season Evgenii Salganik, Odile Crabeck, Niels Fuchs, Nils Hutter, Philipp Anhaus, and Jack Christopher Landy The Cryosphere, 19, 1259–1278, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1259-2025, 2025 To measure Arctic ice thickness, we often check how much ice sticks out of the water. This method depends on knowing the ice's density, which drops significantly in summer. Our study, validated with sonar and laser data, shows that these seasonal changes in density can complicate melt measurements. We stress the importance of considering these density changes for more accurate ice thickness readings.

Animal poo can be used to save endangered species from extinction, research finds

Some cells are still alive within the dung, and could be used to boost genetic diversity in certain species

Turning animal poo into offspring sounds like a zoo keeper’s conjuring trick, but it might become a reality if researchers succeed in a new project to help save endangered animals from extinction.

From snow leopards to sea turtles, animals the world over are under threat, with some scientists calling the massive loss of wildlife in recent decades a “biological annihilation”.

Creativity or cultural invasion? A fashion show sparks a row in Kashmir

A fashion show in a snowy town has sparked a controversy in Indian-administered Kashmir.

From Polaroid to vinyl, Gen Z is making retro tech one of 2025’s biggest trends: ‘These things just have more value’

Young people are looking to unplug now more than ever before.

'America is not Canada,' new Prime Minister Mark Carney says in rebuke to Trump

President Donald Trump since his second White House term began has said Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal should become U.S. property.

Greenland's politicians unite against Trump

In an unusual show of unity, party leaders say they "cannot accept the repeated statements about the annexation of Greenland."

Greenland Ice Sheet surface roughness from Ku- and Ka-band radar altimetry surface echo strengths

Greenland Ice Sheet surface roughness from Ku- and Ka-band radar altimetry surface echo strengths Kirk M. Scanlan, Anja Rutishauser, and Sebastian B. Simonsen The Cryosphere, 19, 1221–1239, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1221-2025, 2025 An ice sheet's surface modulates its response to climate change, and it is therefore critical to monitor how it evolves through time. Here, we investigate novel measurements of Greenland surface roughness based on the strength of reflected local airborne and pan-Greenland satellite radar signals. These measurements respond to roughness at scales typically larger than those considered in mass balance modelling while highlighting the scale dependency of surface roughness that is often overlooked.

Historically consistent mass loss projections of the Greenland ice sheet

Historically consistent mass loss projections of the Greenland ice sheet Charlotte Rahlves, Heiko Goelzer, Andreas Born, and Petra M. Langebroek The Cryosphere, 19, 1205–1220, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1205-2025, 2025 Mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet significantly contributes to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities globally. To improve future sea-level projections, we simulated ice sheet behavior until 2100, initializing the model with observed geometry and using various climate models. Predictions indicate a sea-level rise of 32 to 228 mm by 2100, with climate model uncertainty being the main source of variability in projections.

Trump on U.S. annexation of Greenland: 'I think it'll happen'

"We don't want to be Americans. No, we don't want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen of the island's Demokraatit party.

Bathymetry-constrained impact of relative sea-level change on basal melting in Antarctica

Bathymetry-constrained impact of relative sea-level change on basal melting in Antarctica Moritz Kreuzer, Torsten Albrecht, Lena Nicola, Ronja Reese, and Ricarda Winkelmann The Cryosphere, 19, 1181–1203, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1181-2025, 2025 The study investigates how changing sea levels around Antarctica can potentially affect the melting of floating ice shelves. It utilizes numerical models for both the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the solid Earth, investigating features like troughs and sills that control the flow of ocean water onto the continental shelf. The research finds that compared to climatic changes, the effect of relative sea level on ice-shelf melting is small.

Deadly avian flu strain is spreading rapidly in Antarctica

Expedition finds H5N1 in 13 bird and seal species on the Antarctic Peninsula

Age–depth distribution in western Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, and Antarctic-wide comparisons of internal reflection horizons

Age–depth distribution in western Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, and Antarctic-wide comparisons of internal reflection horizons Steven Franke, Daniel Steinhage, Veit Helm, Alexandra M. Zuhr, Julien A. Bodart, Olaf Eisen, and Paul Bons The Cryosphere, 19, 1153–1180, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1153-2025, 2025 The study presents internal reflection horizons (IRHs) over an area of 450 000 km² from western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, spanning 4.8–91 ka. Using radar and ice core data, nine IRHs were dated and correlated with volcanic events. The data enhance our understanding of the ice sheet's age–depth architecture, accumulation, and dynamics. The findings inform ice flow models and contribute to Antarctic-wide comparisons of IRHs, supporting efforts toward a 3D age–depth ice sheet model.

Mega-storm dumps 11 billion tonnes of snow ― and builds up a melting ice sheet

Nature, Published online: 13 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00705-z

Videos Show Narwhals Using Their Tusks to Play With Their Food

Researchers observed a number of surprising behaviors by the ivory-sporting whales during an expedition with drones in the Canadian High Arctic.

Greenland's centre-right opposition wins election

The voting was dominated by US President Donald Trump's pledge to take over Denmark's autonomous territory.

Author Correction: Observation of Nagaoka polarons in a Fermi–Hubbard quantum simulator

Nature, Published online: 12 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08819-0

Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California and wetter over Spain and Portugal

On decadal timescales, the loss of Arctic ice favors the climate of the south-west of the United States -- and California in particular -- becoming drier on average, especially in winter. This phenomenon would also affect the climate of Spain and Portugal, favoring conditions of higher humidity in winter, although in this case the observed effect is weaker.

Greenland's election: Why does it matter and how does it work?

Five of the six parties favour Greenland's independence from Denmark, differing only on how quickly that should come about.

Orange Alert: What Caused the Colors on This Snowy Owl?

Bird watchers along Lake Huron photographed the bird, which has been nicknamed Rusty and Creamsicle. But there is no consensus about what caused its unusual tint.

InSAR-derived seasonal subsidence reflects spatial soil moisture patterns in Arctic lowland permafrost regions

InSAR-derived seasonal subsidence reflects spatial soil moisture patterns in Arctic lowland permafrost regions Barbara Widhalm, Annett Bartsch, Tazio Strozzi, Nina Jones, Artem Khomutov, Elena Babkina, Marina Leibman, Rustam Khairullin, Mathias Göckede, Helena Bergstedt, Clemens von Baeckmann, and Xaver Muri The Cryosphere, 19, 1103–1133, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1103-2025, 2025 Mapping soil moisture in Arctic permafrost regions is crucial for various activities, but it is challenging with typical satellite methods due to the landscape's diversity. Seasonal freezing and thawing cause the ground to periodically rise and subside. Our research demonstrates that this seasonal ground settlement, measured with Sentinel-1 satellite data, is larger in areas with wetter soils. This method helps to monitor permafrost degradation.

Novel methods to study sea ice deformation, linear kinematic features and coherent dynamic clusters from imaging remote sensing data

Novel methods to study sea ice deformation, linear kinematic features and coherent dynamic clusters from imaging remote sensing data Polona Itkin The Cryosphere, 19, 1135–1151, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1135-2025, 2025 Radar satellite images of sea ice were analyzed to understand how sea ice moves and deforms. These data are noisy, especially when looking at small details. A method was developed to filter out the noise. The filtered data were used to monitor how ice plates stretch and compress over time, revealing slow healing of ice fractures. Cohesive clusters of ice plates that move together were studied too. These methods provide climate-relevant insights into the dynamic nature of winter sea ice cover.

Larger lake outbursts despite glacier thinning at ice-dammed Desolation Lake, Alaska

Larger lake outbursts despite glacier thinning at ice-dammed Desolation Lake, Alaska Natalie Lützow, Bretwood Higman, Martin Truffer, Bodo Bookhagen, Friedrich Knuth, Oliver Korup, Katie E. Hughes, Marten Geertsema, John J. Clague, and Georg Veh The Cryosphere, 19, 1085–1102, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1085-2025, 2025 As the atmosphere warms, thinning glacier dams impound smaller lakes at their margins. Yet, some lakes deviate from this trend and have instead grown over time, increasing the risk of glacier floods to downstream populations and infrastructure. In this article, we examine the mechanisms behind the growth of an ice-dammed lake in Alaska. We find that the growth in size and outburst volumes is more controlled by glacier front downwaste than by overall mass loss over the entire glacier surface.

Greenland is caught in a love triangle between the U.S., Denmark and independence as election takes place

Greenlanders go the polls Tuesday in a pivotal election in which independence from Denmark is a key theme — as well as Trump's ambitions to 'own' the island.

Winter subglacial meltwater detected in a Greenland fjord

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 11 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01652-0

'There's never been a spotlight like this': Greenland heads to the polls as Trump eyes territory

Donald Trump's vow to take over Greenland has shone a global spotlight on the island's elections.

Here's how tourists are solving a plankton puzzle in Antarctica

Tourists to Antarctica are fueling research on some of the tiniest, most influential organisms on Earth: phytoplankton. These itty bitty critters make their own food and are the base of the food web in most of the ocean, but tracking how well they're doing is historically tricky. So, researchers with the program FjordPhyto are using samples collected by these tourists to understand how the balance of power in the Antarctic food web could be shifting — could ripple across the food web of the entire ocean. Want to hear more community science at work or about polar ecosystems? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We're also always open to other story ideas you have. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

How Antarctica’s Only Native Insect Survives the Extreme Cold

Learn how this midge has a unique strategy for surviving what most organisms couldn’t.

They lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now they feel threatened by Trump

Danes, who have been loyal allies of Washington, are blindsided by Trump's insistence on taking over Greenland.

The unforseen effects of melting glaciers on Arctic coastal ecosystems

Researchers found that climate change induced glacial melt increases the heavy metal content and changes the microbiome of habitat-forming brown algae in Arctic fjords. As algae are at the basis of the food web, this will likely have cascading ecological and economic consequences.

Olympian wanted by FBI on drug ring charges

Former Canadian snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives list.

Assessment of continuous flow analysis (CFA) for high-precision profiles of water isotopes in snow cores

Assessment of continuous flow analysis (CFA) for high-precision profiles of water isotopes in snow cores Rémi Dallmayr, Hannah Meyer, Vasileios Gkinis, Thomas Laepple, Melanie Behrens, Frank Wilhelms, and Maria Hörhold The Cryosphere, 19, 1067–1083, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1067-2025, 2025 Recent studies showed that a large number of independent vertical profiles allow for inferring a common local climate signal from the stacked stable water isotope record. Through investigating instrumental limitation and the effect of percolation of such porous samples, this study assesses the continuous flow analysis (CFA) technique in order to analyze the significant number of snow surface profiles within a reasonable time and with high quality.

'You literally cannot see' - blizzard causes chaos in Iowa

A powerful winter storm has hit parts of the US midwest with strong winds and heavy snow.

The Antarctic Ozone Hole Is Under Repair Thanks to Reduced CFCs

Learn about the ozone hole above Antarctica that is now confirmed to be shrinking due to reductions of harmful chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere.

Tracking polar bears during their most secretive stage of life

Researchers have combined satellite collar data with specialized cameras to shed light on one of the most mysterious and important stages in polar bears' lives -- maternal denning, when bears give birth then emerge with their cubs.

More potential locations for ice on the Moon discovered

Ice may be present a few centimeters below the moon's surface in more areas of the lunar polar regions than was previously thought due to large, yet highly localized, variations in surface temperatures. The results, published in Communications Earth & Environment, are derived from direct measurements taken at the lunar surface in 2023 by the Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission.

A comparison of supraglacial meltwater features throughout contrasting melt seasons: southwest Greenland

A comparison of supraglacial meltwater features throughout contrasting melt seasons: southwest Greenland Emily Glen, Amber Leeson, Alison F. Banwell, Jennifer Maddalena, Diarmuid Corr, Olivia Atkins, Brice Noël, and Malcolm McMillan The Cryosphere, 19, 1047–1066, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1047-2025, 2025 We compare surface meltwater features from optical satellite imagery in the Russell–Leverett glacier catchment during high (2019) and low (2018) melt years. In the high melt year, features appear at higher elevations, meltwater systems are more connected, small lakes are more frequent, and slush is more widespread. These findings provide insights into how a warming climate, where high melt years become common, could alter meltwater distribution and dynamics on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Antarctic sea ice minimum hits a near-record low, again

Effects of Arctic sea-ice concentration on surface radiative fluxes in four atmospheric reanalyses

Effects of Arctic sea-ice concentration on surface radiative fluxes in four atmospheric reanalyses Tereza Uhlíková, Timo Vihma, Alexey Yu Karpechko, and Petteri Uotila The Cryosphere, 19, 1031–1046, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1031-2025, 2025 To better understand the local, regional, and global impacts of the recent rapid sea-ice decline in the Arctic, one of the key issues is to quantify the effects of sea-ice concentration on the surface radiative fluxes. We analyse these effects utilising four data sets called atmospheric reanalyses, and we evaluate uncertainties in these effects arising from inter-reanalysis differences in the sensitivity of the surface radiative fluxes to sea-ice concentration.

Spatiotemporal patterns of accumulation and surface roughness in interior Greenland with a GNSS-IR network

Spatiotemporal patterns of accumulation and surface roughness in interior Greenland with a GNSS-IR network Derek J. Pickell, Robert L. Hawley, and Adam LeWinter The Cryosphere, 19, 1013–1029, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1013-2025, 2025 We use a low-cost, low-power GNSS network to measure surface accumulation in Greenland's interior using the interferometric reflectometry technique. Additionally, we extend this method to also estimate centimeter- to meter-scale surface roughness. Our results closely align with a validation record and highlight a period of unusually high accumulation from late 2022 to 2023, along with seasonal variations in surface roughness.

Mapping subsea permafrost around Tuktoyaktuk Island (Northwest Territories, Canada) using electrical resistivity tomography

Mapping subsea permafrost around Tuktoyaktuk Island (Northwest Territories, Canada) using electrical resistivity tomography Ephraim Erkens, Michael Angelopoulos, Jens Tronicke, Scott R. Dallimore, Dustin Whalen, Julia Boike, and Pier Paul Overduin The Cryosphere, 19, 997–1012, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-997-2025, 2025 We investigate the depth of subsea permafrost formed by inundation of terrestrial permafrost due to marine transgression around the rapidly disappearing, permafrost-cored Tuktoyaktuk Island (Beaufort Sea, NWT, Canada). We use geoelectrical surveys with floating electrodes to identify the boundary between unfrozen and frozen sediment. Our findings indicate that permafrost thaw depths beneath the seabed can be explained by coastal erosion rates and landscape features before inundation.

The ozone hole is healing, thanks to global reduction of CFCs

A new study confirms the Antarctic ozone layer is healing as a direct result of global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances.

Can surface fractures on Earth, Mars, and Europa predict habitability on other planets?

When a mudflat crumbles on Earth, or an ice sheet splinters on one of Jupiter's moons (Europa), or an ancient lakebed breaks on Mars, do these fractures follow a hidden geometric script? Could similar patterns on another planet hint that water once existed there—and possibly sustained life?

Astronomers detect new polar cataclysmic variable

Using the ROentgen SATellite (ROSAT), astronomers have discovered a new cataclysmic variable system of the polar subtype. The new polar, which received the designation ZTF J0112+5827, has an orbital period of approximately 81 minutes. The finding is detailed in a research paper published on the arXiv preprint server.

Understanding biases in ICESat-2 data due to subsurface scattering using Airborne Topographic Mapper waveform data

Understanding biases in ICESat-2 data due to subsurface scattering using Airborne Topographic Mapper waveform data Benjamin E. Smith, Michael Studinger, Tyler Sutterley, Zachary Fair, and Thomas Neumann The Cryosphere, 19, 975–995, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-975-2025, 2025 This study investigates errors (biases) that may result when green lasers are used to measure the elevation of glaciers and ice sheets. These biases are important because if the snow or ice on top of the ice sheet changes, it can make the elevation of the ice appear to change by the wrong amount. We measure these biases over the Greenland Ice Sheet with a laser system on an airplane and explore how the use of satellite data can let us correct for the biases.

Trump says the U.S. will take control of Greenland 'one way or the other'

Trump argued in a joint address to Congress that control of Greenland was crucial to U.S. national security.

World’s biggest iceberg runs aground after a near-40-year journey from Antarctica

Scientists are studying whether the grounded A23a iceberg might help stir nutrients and make food more available for penguins and seals

The world’s biggest iceberg appears to have run aground roughly 70km (43 miles) from a remote Antarctic island, potentially sparing the crucial wildlife haven from being hit, a research organisation said Tuesday.

The colossal iceberg A23a – which measures roughly 3,300 sq km and weighs nearly 1tn tonnes – has been drifting north from Antarctica towards South Georgia island since 2020.

Fingerprinting the recovery of Antarctic ozone

Nature, Published online: 05 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08640-9

Emerging supersolidity in photonic-crystal polariton condensates

Nature, Published online: 05 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08616-9

Intense Storms Bring 16 Billion Tons of Snow to Greenland, Restoring Ice Sheet

Learn about the storm that brought 16 billion tons of snow to Greenland in March 2022, inspiring scientists to study the impact of atmospheric rivers on the Arctic.

Wooly mice designed to engineer mammoth-like elephants

Experiments on mice could see hairy, genetically modified elephants living in the Arctic, a US company claims.

Chile’s perfect skies for stargazing under threat from giant chemical plant

Astronomers deeply concerned that darkest, clearest skies in world will be compromised by proposed facility nearby

In the Atacama desert, the driest non-polar region on Earth, the sky shines when the sun sets.

Up in the arid hills 130km south of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, comets burn brightly and flawless trails of stars and nebula streak the night sky.

February made me shiver (but not the Arctic)

Melting Antarctic ice sheets will slow Earth's strongest ocean current

Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world's strongest ocean current, researchers have found. This melting has implications for global climate indicators, including sea level rise, ocean warming and viability of marine ecosystems. The researchers have shown the current slowing by around 20 per cent by 2050 in a high carbon emissions scenario.

Assessing the sensitivity of the Vanderford Glacier, East Antarctica, to basal melt and calving

Assessing the sensitivity of the Vanderford Glacier, East Antarctica, to basal melt and calving Lawrence A. Bird, Felicity S. McCormack, Johanna Beckmann, Richard S. Jones, and Andrew N. Mackintosh The Cryosphere, 19, 955–973, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-955-2025, 2025 Vanderford Glacier is the fastest-retreating glacier in East Antarctica and may have important implications for future ice loss from the Aurora Subglacial Basin. Our ice sheet model simulations suggest that grounding line retreat is driven by sub-ice-shelf basal melting, in which warm ocean waters melt ice close to the grounding line. We show that current estimates of basal melt are likely too low, highlighting the need for improved estimates and direct measurements of basal melt in the region.

Watch This Rare Footage of Polar Bear Cubs Rolling Out of Their Den

Understanding cubs’ activity when leaving their lairs could aid in supporting the polar bear’s survival.

Mars's northern ice cap is surprisingly young, planetary scientists find

If you've ever looked at Mars through a telescope, you probably noticed its two polar ice caps. The northern one is made largely of water ice—the most obvious sign that Mars was once a wetter, warmer world. A team of researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) used that ice cap to make surprising discoveries about it and what it tells us about Mars's interior. The research is published in the journal Nature.

The memories lost when a sibling dies | Letters

Dr Wendy Tagg has missing photos in her album of memories, while Judith Abbs says there isn’t a word for a sibling who is now alone

Jason Hazeley’s piece on the death of his sister (When my sister died, it wasn’t just her own childhood memories that disappeared. Mine did too, 24 February) took me right back to a vague memory of hurtling down a snowy hill on the big wooden sleigh that my father had made.

The real loss is that I can’t ask my big brother. He would have known which hill it was, the route we took, whether we drove there in the blue Reliant or the beige Morris, whether I was wearing the red woolly coat that was once his. I, too, have missing photos in my album of memories.Dr Wendy TaggUckfield, East Sussex

Snowflake surges 13% on earnings beat as company expands AI push

Snowflake announced an expanded partnership with Microsoft Azure to offer access to OpenAI models on Wednesday.

Scientists capture rare footage of baby polar bears emerging from dens

Combining remote cameras with GPS tracking gives scientists powerful tool to look at early lives of these elusive animals

A history-matching analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet since the Last Interglacial – Part 1: Ice sheet evolution

A history-matching analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet since the Last Interglacial – Part 1: Ice sheet evolution Benoit S. Lecavalier and Lev Tarasov The Cryosphere, 19, 919–953, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-919-2025, 2025 We present the evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) over the last 200 kyr by means of a history-matching analysis where an updated observational database constrained ~ 10 000 model simulations. During peak glaciation at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the best-fitting sub-ensemble of AIS simulations reached an excess grounded ice volume relative to the present of 9.2 to 26.5 m equivalent sea level relative to the present. The LGM AIS volume can help resolve the LGM missing-ice problem.