https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/ Combined list of the recent articles of the journal The Cryosphere and the recent discussion forum The Cryosphere Discussions en https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3817-2026 Brief communication: Inferring Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitudes in the Europe Alps with FROST Oskar Herrmann, Veena Prasad, Anna Zöller, Alexander R. Groos, Samuel Cook, Christian Sommer, and Johannes J. Fürst The Cryosphere, 20, 3817–3825, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3817-2026, 2026 Glaciers in the European Alps are shrinking rapidly because of climate change. We developed a new open-source method that combines satellite observations with computer models to estimate where glaciers gain and lose ice. Applied to hundreds of glaciers, the results agree well with field measurements. This approach improves our understanding of glacier change and helps make more reliable predictions of their future. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3795-2026 Enhanced prediction skill of Antarctic sea ice through sea ice thickness assimilation Nicholas Williams, Yiguo Wang, and François Counillon The Cryosphere, 20, 3795–3815, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3795-2026, 2026 This study investigates whether assimilating sea ice thickness observations into a global climate model can improve reanalysis and seasonal prediction skill of the Antarctic sea ice. We found that assimilation of sea ice thickness improves the representation of sea ice variability, especially in western Antarctica. We also show that initialisation of predictions with sea ice thickness data assimilation can improve forecasts of sea ice concentration, extent and thickness in summer and autumn. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3783-2026 Uncertainty of the satellite-retrieved sea-ice area record and its trend Andreas Wernecke, Thomas Lavergne, Stefan Kern, and Dirk Notz The Cryosphere, 20, 3783–3793, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3783-2026, 2026 We analyse the types and size of uncertainties in satellite measurements of the global sea ice cover. These measurements give insights into the state of the climate system and quality of climate models. We derive uncertainties for one satellite product and compare it with other products. We find that offsets do play a role for measurements of the total sea ice cover, but also for estimates of its change. This calls for further investigations into the reasons for these offsets. Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3759-2026 Mapping daily snow depth with machine learning and airborne lidar across two contrasting snowpacks Caleb G. Pan, Jeremy Johnston, Jennifer M. Jacobs, and Shad O'Neel The Cryosphere, 20, 3759–3781, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3759-2026, 2026 We developed a simple method to turn a few airborne snow-mapping flights and one daily snow record into continuous maps showing how snow depth changes each day. Tested in Idaho and New Hampshire, the approach works well in both deep and shallow snow regions and helps plan when and how often to fly lidar surveys for the best results. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3739-2026 Last Glacial Maximum extent and subsequent retreat of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet from the Mac. Robertson Shelf Janina Güntzel, Juliane Müller, Ralf Tiedemann, Gesine Mollenhauer, Lester Lembke-Jene, Estella Weigelt, Lasse Schopen, Niklas Wesch, Laura Kattein, Andrew N. Mackintosh, and Johann P. Klages The Cryosphere, 20, 3739–3758, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3739-2026, 2026 Combined multi-proxy sediment core analyses and bathymetry data reveal the deglaciation along the Mac. Robertson Shelf, a yet insufficiently studied sector of the East Antarctic margin. Grounding line extent towards the continental shelf break prior to ~12.7 cal. ka BP and subsequent episodic mid-shelf retreat until the early Holocene prevented Dense Shelf Water formation in its current form, hence suggesting a different formation mechanism under such full glacial conditions. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3705-2026 Review article: The Foundation-Patuxent-Academy ice stream system, Antarctica Neil Ross, Rebecca J. Sanderson, Bernd Kulessa, Martin Siegert, Guy J. G. Paxman, Keir A. Nichols, Matthew R. Siegfried, Stewart S. R. Jamieson, Michael J. Bentley, Tom A. Jordan, Christine L. Batchelor, David Small, Olaf Eisen, Kate Winter, Robert G. Bingham, S. Louise Callard, Rachel Carr, Christine F. Dow, Helen A. Fricker, Emily Hill, Benjamin H. Hills, Coen Hofstede, Hafeez Jeofry, Felipe Napoleoni, and Wilson Sauthoff The Cryosphere, 20, 3705–3737, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3705-2026, 2026 We review research about a group of fast-flowing Antarctic ice streams, the Foundation-Patuxent-Academy System. Previously, we knew little about how these ice streams flow, how they interact with each other and the ocean, what their geological history was, and how they might evolve in a warming world. By reviewing existing research, we have identified the future research needed to determine how these ice streams function, and how they might contribute to future global sea level rise. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3683-2026 Wintertime evolution of landfast ice stability in Alaska from InSAR Andrew Einhorn and Andrew Mahoney The Cryosphere, 20, 3683–3704, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3683-2026, 2026 Landfast ice along the Alaskan Arctic coast is vital for winter travel, yet current remote sensing only maps its extent, not safety. Using InSAR, we distinguish landfast from pack ice and classify stability via a new metric, apparent strain. We quantitatively defined three classes: bottomfast, stabilized, and nonstabilized which correspond to the stability of the landfast ice. Apparent strain reveals an increase in stability throughout the winter months. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3443-2026 Detection and attribution of the role of anthropogenic climate change in industrial-era retreat of Pine Island Glacier Alexander T. Bradley, David T. Bett, C. Rosie Williams, Robert J. Arthern, Paul R. Holland, James Byrne, Tamsin L. Edwards, and Mira Adhikari The Cryosphere, 20, 3443–3465, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3443-2026, 2026 At least since we began measuring in detail, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has lost a lot of ice, but we don't know precisely how important climate change is in this. Here, we put a number on the role of climate change in retreat of a glacier in this ice sheet, for the first time. We show that climate change made the shrinking of this glacier much worse. Our work also suggests that what happened on very long timescales (the last 10,000 years) might also matter for retreat of the ice sheets today. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3599-2026 Comparing calving laws at Greenland's three largest ice shelves Jamie Barnett, Felicity A. Holmes, Sarah L. Greenwood, Mathieu Morlighem, Nina Kirchner, and Martin Jakobsson The Cryosphere, 20, 3599–3617, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3599-2026, 2026 Computer models used to predict future change of the Greenland Ice Sheet are uncertain, especially in how they represent iceberg calving. We compare several calving approaches by testing model results against satellite observations of changes at three unique floating ice shelves in Greenland. We then extend the simulations to the year 2300 to explore future ice loss, finding that warming of the atmosphere or ocean is more important than the choice of calving method. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:26:38 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3643-2026 Winter Arctic polynyas in CMIP6 models Céline Heuzé, Jonathan W. Rheinlænder, Tian Tian, and Carmen Hau Man Wong The Cryosphere, 20, 3643–3682, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3643-2026, 2026 When the sea ice opens in winter in so-called “polynyas”, the entire climate system is affected from deep water ventilation to cloud formation, along with the ecosystem. In observations, winter Arctic polynyas have been increasing along with climate change. We here show that we cannot predict their future using global climate models as they do not represent winter Arctic polynyas correctly: they open over too large areas but too rarely, and for the wrong reason. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3619-2026 The new kids on the block of Arctic coasts – formation and morphodynamics of paraglacial moraine lagoons in Svalbard Zofia Owczarek, Oskar Kostrzewa, Wojciech Piskorski, and Mateusz C. Strzelecki The Cryosphere, 20, 3619–3642, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3619-2026, 2026 As Arctic warming speeds glacier retreat, new coastal landscapes emerge. Paraglacial Moraine Lagoons (PMLs), formed by Little Ice Age moraines, now cover 56 % of Svalbard's lagoons, triple their 1930s area. We propose a model of their evolution: erosion by marine forces or stabilization by sediment infill, functioning as sediment traps and biodiversity refuges. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3581-2026 Air mass origin and local impacts on Antarctic snow isotopic composition: an observation and modelling study Agnese Petteni, Mathieu Casado, Christophe Leroy-Dos Santos, Amaelle Landais, Niels Dutrievoz, Cécile Agosta, Pete D. Akers, Joel Savarino, Andrea Spolaor, Massimo Frezzotti, and Barbara Stenni The Cryosphere, 20, 3581–3598, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3581-2026, 2026 We investigated the isotopic composition of surface snow in a previously unexplored region of East Antarctica to understand how differences in air mass origin influence its variability. By comparing observations with model data, we validated the model and quantified the impact of post-depositional processes at the snow–atmosphere interface. Our results offer valuable insights for reconstructing past temperatures from ice cores. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3559-2026 30 m monthly glacier surface velocity mapping in the Kangri Karpo region (2015–2024) using multi-source remote sensing data fusion Daoxun Gao, Kunpeng Wu, Yunpeng Duan, Zhaoqi Ji, Danyu Ma, Tobias Bolch, Cheng Huang, and Shiyin Liu The Cryosphere, 20, 3559–3579, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3559-2026, 2026 We mapped monthly glacier flow speeds in the Kangri Karpo region from 2015 to 2024 by combining measurements from several satellites and a drone survey. The merged maps are more complete and detailed than maps from any single source, with fewer gaps caused by clouds or difficult terrain. The results show where glaciers move fastest, how their speed changes through the year, and which glaciers have been speeding up or slowing down over the past decade. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3533-2026 Inferring subglacial topography using physics informed machine learning constrained by two conservation laws Mansa Krishna, Gong Cheng, and Mathieu Morlighem The Cryosphere, 20, 3533–3558, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3533-2026, 2026 Estimates of the Greenland Ice Sheet’s contribution to sea level rise are affected by uncertainties in the bed topography. Traditional, physics-based methods for inferring the bed elevation are limited to fast-flowing areas of the ice sheet. We use machine learning models informed with two physical laws to infer the bed elevation for different regions in Greenland, showing that this method can be used to infer the bed elevation in slower-moving, sparsely surveyed regions of the ice sheet. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3511-2026 Multi-annual and seasonal patterns of Murtèl rock glacier borehole deformation, environmental controls and implications for kinematic monitoring Giulio Saibene, Isabelle Gärtner-Roer, Jan Beutel, and Andreas Vieli The Cryosphere, 20, 3511–3532, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3511-2026, 2026 Rock glaciers are bodies of frozen ground found in mountain regions. They move downslope and are mainly studied at the surface. Here, we analyze deformation data from a borehole, providing continuous data for almost eight years. The data shows that the acceleration in the summer movement happens in the uppermost layer, while long-term movement is mostly occurring in a deeper layer. This is important for the interpretation of surface movements, which are used as climate indicators. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3467-2026 Airborne lidar and machine learning reveal decreased snow depth in burned forests Arielle Koshkin and Adrienne M. Marshall The Cryosphere, 20, 3467–3481, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3467-2026, 2026 Wildfires are burning higher in elevation and changing how snow accumulates and melts, disrupting the magnitude and timing of streamflow. Using machine learning and high resolution snow maps, we found that burned forests hold less snow compared to unburned forests, especially in spring, at higher elevations, and on south-facing slopes. These results show how fire reshapes mountain snowpacks, with important implications for water resources in a warming climate. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3483-2026 Thermohydraulic experiments on water infiltration into frozen slopes: the role of macropores and initial water content Julian Bauer, Sebastian Müller, Thomas Heinze, Homa Khanahmadi, and Ivo Baselt The Cryosphere, 20, 3483–3509, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3483-2026, 2026 We studied how rainwater infiltrates into frozen slopes. Using large experiments on an artificial soil slope, we found that larger channels, so-called macropores, first speed up infiltration, but later refreeze and block the flow. These results explain when frozen slopes absorb or shed rainwater and help improve predictions of runoff and slope stability in cold regions. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3405-2026 Brief communication: Hypergravity testing of thawing rates in frozen sand Michael H. Gardner, Simeon Buttery, Soo-Min Ham, Hamad Khan, Daniel W. Wilson, and Jason T. DeJong The Cryosphere, 20, 3405–3413, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3405-2026, 2026 The active layer above permafrost experiences seasonal freezing and thawing cycles. The thickness, and climate-driven change in thickness, of this active layer impacts infrastructure performance, global carbon release, among others. We show how to use gravitational scaling in laboratory experiments that describe the response of the active layer. By using gravity scaling, we can conduct less expensive experiments that still describe the response of actual frozen ground at the prototype scale. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3415-2026 Thinning-induced glacier deceleration in the Zanskar Himalayas Tirthankar Ghosh, RAAJ Ramsankaran, Felicity S. McCormack, and Andrew N. Mackintosh The Cryosphere, 20, 3415–3433, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3415-2026, 2026 Our long-term analysis (1992–2023) shows that glaciers in the Zanskar Himalayas are undergoing sustained flow deceleration, closely associated with progressive thinning and the resulting reduction in driving stress. Glacier-specific factors, including geometry, topography, debris cover, and terminus type, further modulate individual glacier response. Overall, these results provide new insight into the long-term dynamic response of glaciers in the region to ongoing mass loss.  Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3435-2026 Brief communication: Bed mapping of southern Greenland outlet glaciers using helicopter-borne ground penetrating radar (AIRETH) Ilaria Santin, Huw J. Horgan, Raphael Moser, Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson, Faezeh M. Nick, Andreas Vieli, Anja Rutishauser, Hansruedi Maurer, and Daniel Farinotti The Cryosphere, 20, 3435–3441, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3435-2026, 2026 Ice thickness near Greenland’s coast is still poorly measured, yet it is vital for predicting sea level rise. We flew a helicopter ice-penetrating radar over three outlet glaciers in southern Greenland and mapped the glacier bed where basal reflections were clear. We measured ice up to about 340 meters thick, with reliable penetration typically to about 300 meters, providing new constraints that can improve regional bed maps. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:26:39 +0200