Articles | Volume 20, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3827-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3827-2026
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
13 Jul 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 13 Jul 2026

Contrasting dynamics of lake- and marine-terminating glaciers under same climatic conditions

Florian Vacek, Faezeh M. Nick, Douglas Benn, Maarten P. A. Zwarts, Walter Immerzeel, and Roderik S. W. van de Wal

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5733', Enze Zhang, 05 Feb 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Florian Vacek, 31 Mar 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5733', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Feb 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Florian Vacek, 31 Mar 2026
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5733', Anonymous Referee #3, 03 Mar 2026
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Florian Vacek, 31 Mar 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (01 Apr 2026) by Gong Cheng
AR by Florian Vacek on behalf of the Authors (03 Apr 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (08 Apr 2026) by Gong Cheng
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (20 Apr 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (29 Apr 2026) by Gong Cheng
AR by Florian Vacek on behalf of the Authors (17 May 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (06 Jun 2026) by Gong Cheng
AR by Florian Vacek on behalf of the Authors (25 Jun 2026)
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Editorial statement
This study offers a rare natural experiment by comparing two adjacent glaciers South Greenland with shared upstream conditions but differing terminus environments: one terminating in a lake and the other in the ocean. The clear contrast in their dynamic behaviours, despite similar climate and input conditions, provides valuable insight into the role of terminus type in regulating glacier response. This has broader implications for predicting glacier change and sea-level contributions in a warming climate.
Short summary
We studied a unique glacier in South Greenland that ends in both a lake and the ocean. Using satellite data and field work, we found that the two glacier fronts behave very differently even under the same climate. At the lake glacier we identify a floating ice tongue and we infer little melt below water. The lake glacier experienced a sudden large breakup. Our work suggests that lake and marine glacier fronts must be treated differently in model simulations.
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