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 […]
The Cryosphere, 7 April 2026 Projections of Antarctica’s response to temporary but extreme ocean warming find that 14 major ice streams across West and East Antarctica would continue to retreat for centuries, even after temperatures return to present-day levels. Using an ocean-ice sheet model, researchers examined what would happen if Antarctic continental shelf waters warmed […]
The Cryosphere, 1 April 2026 Antarctic sea ice stayed fairly steady from 2010-2014, but began to drop sharply after 2015. By February 2023, it reached a record summer low of 1.85 million km², about 20% lower than the 2010-2014 average. The largest losses have been in the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea and around the Antarctic Peninsula. This […]
Changes in Antarctica can trigger fast and cascading impacts, often with global consequences. Multiple abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment now span across Antarctica’s ice, ocean and ecosystems. The interconnections between these systems amplify the risks of exceeding tipping points. Speakers included Dr. Nerilie Abram, Australian Antarctic Division; Dr. Ariaan Purich, Monash University; Dr. Matthew […]
International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, 22 April 2026 A white paper entitled Barriers to Glaciers-Related Financing: Financing Mitigation to Preserve Glaciers While Adapting to Their Loss was formally released today, in recognition of Earth Day and on the eve of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. Initially shared at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, […]
As a part of IYGP, the text for the White Paper was released last November at COP30. Perspectives from the financing and development impact community examined the interlinkages between water security, adaptation needs, and growing physical climate risks based on the latest glacier science. Pam Pearson, Director of ICCI, moderated the event. Speakers included Dr. […]
Nature Communications, 1 April 2026 A growing network of meltwater lakes along the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet has increased the flow of ice into the ocean, triggering faster ice sheet thinning and more rapid sea-level rise. A study of 102 glaciers across Greenland found that glaciers terminating in lakes move over three times […]
Nature Communications, 6 April 2026 Arctic warming increases the amount of iron draining out of permafrost ground and entering rivers and streams, with important implications for aquatic ecosystems and subsistence resources. This study shows that permafrost thaw causes iron release through two main pathways: microbial activity in waterlogged environments and chemical reactions from sulfide-rich bedrock. […]