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 …
Background The Living Planet Symposium 2025 (LPS25) is the latest in ESA’s triennial series of global events on Earth observation. Held every three years, these symposia have grown in both size and scope, focusing on key environmental issues. In response to the intensifying climate crisis, LPS25 will center on the theme of moving “from observation …
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 …
A paper, recently published in Nature Communications, reveals that a major subglacial lake drainage event beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier in 2013 temporarily doubled the rate of ocean-driven melting beneath its ice shelf. The sudden release of over 7 km³ of freshwater formed a buoyant plume that intensified the melting effect of warm, deep ocean …
Findings and recommendations from the workshop held in September 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
A study published today in Nature reports the results of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (GlaMBIE) project. It provides the most comprehensive comparison of glacier mass loss estimates to date, integrating multiple satellite and in situ observational techniques, including glaciological measurements, satellite-derived digital elevation model (DEM) differencing, altimetry and gravimetry measurements. By systematically assessing …
ARCTEX is a cross-disciplinary project that aims to use Earth observation to improve understanding of extreme events in the Arctic and the complex interplay between the atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, and land ice, with cascading effects on global climate systems. ARCTEX we will conduct three case studies in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean: …
