Articles | Volume 20, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5401-2026
© 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-20-5401-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Sep 2026
Research article |
| 22 Sep 2026
| 22 Sep 2026
Seasonal to decadal evolution of firn properties and impacts on hydrology of the Juneau Icefield
Annika N. Horlings
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, 98105, USA
Juliana Ruef
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
C. Max Stevens
Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
Mikaila Mannello
School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Keegan Bellamy
School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Tahi Wiggins
School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Bradley Markle
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80301, USA
Seth Campbell
School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, USA
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Short summary
Firn, the permeable and porous material through which snow compacts into glacier ice, plays an important role in glacier hydrology, mass balance, and dynamics. We investigated seasonal to decadal evolution of firn on the Juneau Icefield using field measurements and firn modeling, and found that the firn is thinning and warming. Our study offers insights into consequent changes in firn hydrology, including declining refreezing capacity and inter-seasonal shifts in liquid-water retention.
Firn, the permeable and porous material through which snow compacts into glacier ice, plays an...
