Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4 January 2022
This global inventory provides a detailed map of the current size and stability of glacial lakes, in part to allow continual assessment of projected changes as the climate warms. 80% of these lakes in Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, and glacial valley regions (such as the Alps) were found to be stable, but 20% are characterized as “active.” This means they can suddenly and catastrophically burst, posing a hazard to human populations and infrastructure downstream. The sudden release of lake water can also cause landslides, and subglacial lakes play a critical role in moderating the speed at which glacial melt contributes to sea-level rise. Monitoring these lakes is critical to gaining a better understanding of water storage and drainage beneath glaciers in vulnerable mountain regions, as well as risks to local populations.
Nature Communications, 1 April 2026 A growing network of meltwater lakes along the edge of…
Nature Communications, 6 April 2026 Arctic warming increases the amount of iron draining out of…
Nature Climate Change, 30 March 2026 Rising temperatures increase the frequency of retrogressive thaw slumps…
Nature Communications, 30 March 2026 Surface melting in Antarctica is projected to increase this century,…
Permafrost is a critical component of the global climate system because its thaw releases vast…
Communications Earth & Environment, 27 March 2026 The potential collapse of the major system of…