Satellites are transforming the monitoring of freshwater flows into the Arctic Ocean, a critical but poorly observed component of the climate system. Vast amounts of freshwater from rivers, melting ice and runoff influence ocean salinity, sea-ice formation and global circulation, yet ground-based measurements in the region are declining and remain incomplete. By using Earth observation …
Ice sheet evolution is the key unknown in future sea level projection. Numerical models are the best way to assess ice sheet response to future changes in ocean and atmosphere. Observations of recent ice sheet change play a critical role in improving the accuracy of these models. The current revolution in our ability to observe …
A new article, published in Geophysical Research Letters and led by Sara Jensen from DTU Space, demonstrates how ocean currents and eddies in the Arctic can be resolved at unprecedented resolution using the French (CNES) and US (NASA) Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite. The underlying research, funded in the context of the ESA …
More than 100 participants from over 20 nations gathered at ESA’s ESRIN centre for the Antarctica InSync Science Planning Workshop, marking a major milestone in shaping the future of international Antarctic research. The four-day event centred on discussions around the seven priority science themes and seven cross-cutting groups, each contributing to the ambitious coordination of …
Using over a decade of data from ESA’s CryoSat satellite, scientists have identified 85 previously unknown active subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica, bringing the total to 231. These lakes, hidden several kilometres below the surface, periodically fill and drain—movements detected through subtle ice surface height changes measured by CryoSat’s radar altimeter. The discovery also adds 12 …
A new study published in Nature Geoscience reports the first documented case of a subglacial lake draining explosively through Greenland’s ice sheet, blasting a roughly 2 km² area and cutting a 85 m‑deep crater in July-August 2014. The researchers estimate the event released about 90 billion litres of meltwater bursting upward through nearly 85–90 m of ice. The flood …
Using data from ESA’s SMOS satellite, scientists collaborating in the Southern Ocean Freshwater (SO Fresh) project have discovered a surprising reversal in the Southern Ocean: instead of becoming fresher as Antarctic sea ice melts, surface waters are growing saltier, particularly south of 50° S, with salinity rising even as ice cover rapidly retreats. This unexpected trend …
In the heart of the Swiss Alps, scientists are pioneering new methods to monitor glacier health with unprecedented precision. By harnessing satellite data and advanced modelling techniques, they’re gaining insights into the subtle changes in glacier mass balance, crucial for understanding water resources and the impacts of climate change. Glaciers are sensitive indicators of climate …
In a surprising discovery, scientists have observed a glacier in West Antarctica rapidly diverting ice from its neighboring glacier, a phenomenon dubbed “ice piracy.” This significant shift, previously believed to occur over millennia, has occurred in less than two decades. The study, led by researchers from the University of Leeds and published in The Cryosphere, …
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Antarctica InSync coordination team are inviting the global scientific community to participate in the upcoming International Antarctica InSync Science Webinar. This online event aims to provide an in-depth update on the progress and future plans of the Antarctica InSync programme, focusing on establishing working groups centered around key …
