Researchers from our top-rated Geography Department have discovered new details about how meltwater drains through large cracks in the Greenland Ice Sheet, helping scientists better understand how glaciers respond to rising temperatures.
The study focused on a fast-moving glacier in western Greenland, where huge cracks known as crevasses fill with meltwater during warmer months.
The team found that the timing of this drainage is strongly linked to seasonal changes in the movement and stretching of the glacier ice.
Scientists say the findings could improve future predictions of sea level rise linked to climate change.
The team combined satellite images with a form of artificial intelligence known as a convolutional neural network, designed to identify patterns in images, to monitor hundreds of water-filled crevasses.
The team were able to track when the cracks filled and drained over several years.
By comparing this information with measurements of glacier movement, the researchers found that drainage often happened when the glacier was under greater physical stress as it sped up during the summer melt season.
Lead researchers say this suggests the glacier’s movement plays a more important role in controlling water drainage than previously understood.
When meltwater travels through and beneath a glacier, it can affect how quickly the ice moves towards the ocean.
Faster glacier movement can increase ice loss and contribute to rising sea levels.
The researchers believe their findings will help scientists improve models used to predict the future behaviour of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
They say understanding exactly when and how meltwater drains are important because these processes influence the stability of glaciers in a warming climate.
The team hopes the research will also support wider efforts to understand how polar regions are changing and what those changes could mean for coastal communities around the world.
This study was funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
Our Department of Geography is ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and second in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Geography webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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