Articles | Volume 20, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1699-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1699-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Mar 2026
Research article |
| 23 Mar 2026
| 23 Mar 2026
Active subglacial lakes in the Canadian Arctic identified by multi-annual ice elevation changes
Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320317, Taiwan
Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320317, Taiwan
Wesley Van Wychen
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada
Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
Tsutomu Yamanokuchi
Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
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Short summary
We identify lakes beneath the glaciers in the Canadian Arctic using satellite measurements over a decade, increasing the number of known subglacial lakes in this area from 2 to 37. These lakes are recharged by billions of cubic meters of water, and the draining of these lakes can lower the ice elevation by more than 100 m. We find three types of subglacial lakes, two of which are primarily located in the Canadian Arctic. When glaciers lose their ice quickly, these lakes become active.
We identify lakes beneath the glaciers in the Canadian Arctic using satellite measurements over...
