Science Advances, 8 May 2026 Antarctic sea ice has remained at historically low levels since 2015, driven by shifts in Southern Ocean winds that pulled heat from the deep ocean to the surface and weakened the separation between ocean layers – adding to growing evidence that Antarctica may have entered a new era of reduced […]
Nature Communications, 7 May 2026 Relatively small and brief intrusions of warm water beneath Antarctic ice shelves can significantly increase melting by leaving long grooves on their underside, known as basal channels, leading to rapid melt from below. When slightly warmer Circumpolar Deep Water surrounding the continent flows into an otherwise cold ice shelf cavity, […]
Science, 14 May 2026 Rivers are dynamic and evolving. However, between 1980-2000 and 2000-2020, rates of change doubled for key rivers in the Himalayan uplands, sparking questions about the influence of climate change and a rapidly warming cryosphere. Satellite and field observations of over 1,000 river bends show that cryosphere loss is a significant driver […]
World Meteorological Organization, 29 April 2026 The 2025 European State of the Climate report describes rapid and continuing losses of snow and ice across Europe’s cold regions, especially the Arctic, Alps, and Greenland. All monitored European glacier regions recorded net mass loss in 2025, with Iceland experiencing its second-largest glacier loss on record, continuing a […]
The Cryosphere, 23 Apr 2026 Over the past four decades, Greece’s highest mountains have lost 58% of their snow cover, making this region’s snowpack one of the fastest disappearing in the world. Using a new high-resolution snow model based on satellite observations and climate data, researchers found widespread decline in snow cover from November through […]
Nature Communications, 2 May 2026 Scientists reconstructed the terrain beneath more than 200,000 glaciers worldwide using satellite observations, ice thickness measurements, and advanced glacier modeling, finding that over 50,000 new lakes could emerge as glaciers retreat. Together, these future lakes would store about 3,100 cubic kilometers of water – equivalent to roughly 7 millimeters of […]
Glaciers loss impacts sea-level rise, freshwater resources, tourism, and cultural sites. This event details the latest glacier projections and how our actions as a society, especially by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, can reduce the severity of these impacts. Speakers include Dr. Miriam Jackson, IPCC SROCC Lead Author and ICCI’s Europe and Himalaya Director; and Luis […]
ICIMOD, April 24, 2026 2026 marks the fourth consecutive year of below-average snow conditions in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, with regional snow levels falling 28% below average, surpassing last year’s record deficit of 24%. The Hindu Kush Himalaya relies heavily on snowpack and glaciers as a key freshwater source for over two billion people, with […]
Ocean Science, 20 Apr 2026 Global warming and increased freshwater input from melting ice are weakening the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), while initially strengthening the Nordic Overturning Circulation (NOC), which circulates water between the North Atlantic and Nordic Sea. This occurs because fresher, less dense water in the sub-polar North Atlantic weakens the AMOC […]
Science, 23 Apr 2026 Specially-adapted species living in glacier regions face rapid snowpack and ice loss, yet remain insufficiently protected by current international and regional policy frameworks. Within the European Union, the EU Habitats Directive is the only legislative tool that recognizes glaciers as a protected habitat, but it does not fully take into account […]
Science Advances, 24 Apr 2026 Observations from the grounding zone beneath the Ross Ice Shelf in West Antarctica show that ocean conditions under the ice are far more dynamic than previously assumed. Instead of a simple two-layer system, warm seawater flows inward beneath the ice while colder, fresher meltwater flows outward above, and these layers […]
The Hindu Kush Himalaya faces rising climate extremes that threaten mountain communities, demanding a shift from reactive to proactive approaches. Forecast-based financing, guided by projections and risk analysis, enables anticipatory action by releasing funds ahead of crises to reduce losses. This session discussed opportunities, challenges, and best practices of forecast-based financing, drawing on global pilots […]
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 23 April 2026 Observations suggest we are currently tracking sea-level rise pathways consistent with intermediate- to high-emission scenarios. These trajectories are already producing rapid increases in the rate of sea-level rise, with some regions, such as the Western Pacific, already experiencing greater increase than the global average. Ice sheet […]
NPJ Natural Hazards, 16 April 2026) Rising temperatures and shifting regional precipitation patterns are reducing the stability of Himalayan glaciers, causing some to evolve into “hanging glaciers” — ice masses perched on steep slopes that can detach and trigger ice avalanches. This study presents a comprehensive inventory of hanging glaciers in northern India’s Alaknanda basin, […]
Nature Communications, 18 March 2026 This study identified a marked increase in both flood frequency and peak river flows across the Tibetan Plateau after 2016. Conditions were relatively stable from 1980–2016, after which flooding became more frequent and intense across many river systems. This shift is linked to stronger climate extremes, including more intense short […]