Mountain, polar and low-lying nations came together in a side event at the SB58 meetings on June 8, 2023 to discuss the latest cryosphere science and its key implications for UNFCCC adaptation, loss and damage, and mitigation processes. Negotiators from a wide range of countries raised their concern about the global impacts of snow and […]

Nature Communications, 6 June 2023 This study, calibrating latest models from the IPCC with actual observations, found greenhouse gases as the main driver of Arctic sea ice loss over the past four decades; and in a new finding, also the leading cause of the ice loss now occurring during all seasons/every month of the year. […]

Dr. Dirk Notz co-authored the above paper and spoke at the Cryosphere Pavilion at COP25 in Madrid, offering insight on historical trends in Arctic sea ice, its far-reaching significance for ecosystems and weather patterns, and how its rapid decline amplifies Arctic warming today. “The disappearance of Arctic sea ice, in addition to everything that it […]

Antarctica: ATCM XLV – CEP XXV in Helsinki, Finland Released by ICCI on June 14, 2023 The 45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) began on May 29 in Helsinki, Finland; along with the associated advisory body, the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) meeting in its 25th session. The Antarctic Treaty includes primarily those nations engaged […]

Nature Communications Earth & Environment, 22 May 2023 The ability of mountain snowpack to store water has significantly decreased across 25% of the Cascades, Rockies, Sierra Nevada and Columbia Mountains over the past seven decades. In coming summers, the Western U.S. and Canada will experience increased risk of wildfires and water shortages, with some regions […]

The IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report made it clear that glaciers are losing ice worldwide, even in high altitude regions where they were previously stable. Most glacier regions have even passed “peak water,” where melt was at its highest; and snowpack also is decreasing in important watersheds, such as the North American West. This session from […]

Nature Communications, 18 May 2023 Microscopic fossils from millions of years ago reveal that previous warm periods 2-4°C above today’s temperatures weakened parts of the continental slope around Antarctica, triggering underwater landslides and tsunamis that could occur again in the near future if temperatures continue to rise. Glacier retreat and warm ocean waters deposit unstable […]

News Briefing: 17 April 2023 Last month, the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) and the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) released a briefing paper for policy makers covering three unprecedented extreme low Antarctic sea ice events, all of which occurred in the past seven years. Antarctic sea ice plays a crucial role […]

This side event underscores that ice loss and subsequent sea level rise from polar ice sheets pose a far-reaching and urgent threat to communities across the world. In this session, an international team of academics, policy makers, businesses and local people come together to discuss nature-based solutions that provide vulnerable regions with costal defenses while […]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 8 May 2023 Warm seawater can flow many kilometers underneath glaciers as tides periodically lift the ice off the seafloor, exposing its vulnerable underside to warm ocean waters. This newly observed ice-ocean dynamic suggests that current models may underestimate the potential rate of future sea level rise from […]

Nature Communications, 8 May 2023 Dark red algae on snow can increase spring snowmelt by 20% in the US Pacific Northwest, jeopardizing downstream species such as salmon that depend on the stability of these frozen mountain regions for their survival. Increasingly early spring weather allows dense algae blooms to spread across the snow. Algae absorbs […]

This panel discussion from COP27 lifts up the voices of young people, underscoring the importance of reducing emissions to slow the devastating and global impacts of cryosphere loss. Speakers explored how Arctic, African and Pacific communities can form cross-regional collaborations critical to building resilience and collectively working towards climate justice. Soomin Han, Climate Finance Lead […]

Environmental Research Letters, 2 May 2023 This study summarizes the long-term risks and consequences associated with overshooting the 1.5°C limit of the Paris Agreement, focusing on the global impacts of rising temperatures on ice sheets, permafrost, wildfires, heatwaves, ocean acidification and more. One of their key findings: even temporarily exceeding 1.5°C will result in 10% […]

Nature Ecology and Evolution, 4 May 2023 Glacier retreat across the European Alps decreases the habitat for crucial invertebrate species that live in meltwater rivers. Loss of these species could permanently reshape surrounding ecosystems, and weaken their ability to cope with future stressors. Stoneflies, midges, and flatworms play an important role in supporting larger organisms […]

Virtual – Open to Qualified Applicants in Sweden For Capsule readers in Sweden: ICCI is seeking an enthusiastic Nordic Coordinator for a half-time contract position, to bring the implications of latest cryosphere science to the Swedish and Nordic communities. Work includes contacts with the scientists, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations, especially the UNFCCC and Nordic […]