Thwaites Ice Shelf Doubled Melt Rate During Sudden Glacial Lake Drainage

Nature Communications, 6 March 2025

This study reports that the sudden drainage of a lake beneath Thwaites Glacier temporarily doubled the melting of its ice shelf in 2013, pushing ice loss to greater heights than expected. The quick release of lake meltwater, in combination with deep circumpolar ocean waters continually eroding ice shelf cavities, led to rapid thinning and retreat during this period. While modern understanding emphasizes ocean warming as the primary driver of ice sheet retreat, this research highlights the significant, though short term, impact of discharge from glacial lakes. Subglacial flooding events like these are not known to destabilize the ice sheet, but leave a significant impact on melt rates and ice loss along the base of the glacier.

Full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57417-1