Lakes at the Edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet Increase Ice Loss, Sea-level Rise

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 faster than those ending on land. Crucially, this increase in speed is not confined to the glacier edge, with impacts extending up to 3.5 kilometers inland. These lakes form when glaciers retreat and expose deep, bowl-shaped hollows in the land. Meltwater collects in these basins, expanding the lakes. Much like glaciers that flow into the ocean, those ending in lakes experience a form of flotation, where the water partly lifts the glacier front, increasing melting under the ice. This makes it easier for large slabs of ice to break off and reduces the friction that usually slows the glacier’s flow. Because these lakes are expected to grow in number and size as warming continues, the study concludes that they must be included in ice sheet models to avoid underestimating future ice loss and sea-level rise.

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