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-20-5653-2026 Seasonal evolution of suncup roughness describes broadband albedo decay on alpine snow Francesca Carletti, Nora Helbig, Nander Wever, Loïc Brouet, Mathias Bavay, Benjamin Walter, and Michael Lehning The Cryosphere, 20, 5653–5673, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5653-2026, 2026 Melting alpine snowfields develop cup-shaped hollows that reduce how much sunlight the snow reflects, accelerating melt. Over three seasons in the Swiss Alps, we monitored how these hollows form and grow with a laser scanner. Two processes reduce reflectivity at the same time: hollows trap light through internal reflections, and meltwater washes dark particles into them. Because they are difficult to separate, surface roughness alone emerges as a proxy for overall reflectivity loss. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5629-2026 Gravity topography modeling of the Denman Glacier region using a geostatistical approach Mareen Lösing, Alan Aitken, Michael Field, Emma MacKie, and Lu Li The Cryosphere, 20, 5629–5652, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5629-2026, 2026 Subglacial topography controls how Antarctic ice flows towards the ocean and responds to climate change. In the Denman–Shackleton region, deep valleys connect the ice-sheet interior to the coast. Denman Glacier occupies one of the deepest and could contribute significantly to sea-level rise. Combining new ground-based gravity measurements with airborne data and statistical modelling reveals a more complex landscape than existing maps and a potential vulnerability to unstable retreat. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5585-2026 Reduced surface hoar in a warming world William Rudisill, Dan Feldman, Adrienne Marshall, and Arielle Koshkin The Cryosphere, 20, 5585–5607, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5585-2026, 2026 Surface hoar crystals occasionally grow on the top of snowpacks overnight. Little work has focused on climatic conditions leading to surface hoar. We use data from three field campaigns in the Colorado Rockies to investigate. We show that surface hoar events decline as the climate warms, and that there may be 14 % fewer events per year in the future. There is still work needed to reconcile measured amounts of surface hoar crystals, models, and the relationship with turbulent air. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5609-2026 Impact of blowing snow on the surface radiation balance near the western margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet Samuel M. Tax, Maurice van Tiggelen, Thirza N. Feenstra, Paul C. J. P. Smeets, Srinidhi N. Gadde, Christiaan T. van Dalum, Willem Jan van de Berg, and Michiel R. van den Broeke The Cryosphere, 20, 5609–5627, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5609-2026, 2026 Strong winds can lift snow into the air, which influences the energy exchange between the surface and the atmosphere. We studied this phenomenon over the Greenland Ice Sheet using observations and a climate model. We found that blowing snow traps heat near the surface like a blanket and reflects incoming sunlight like a mirror. Simulating these processes increases the net energy at the surface and improves model accuracy. Therefore, we recommend including these effects in climate models. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5559-2026 Seven decades of glacier loss on the Nevados de Chillán volcanic complex, Chile Millie C. Spencer, Alfonso Fernandez, Emma Tyrrell, Robert Clasing, Enrique Muñoz, Pablo A. Mendoza, Jorge Berkhoff, and Noah P. Molotch The Cryosphere, 20, 5559–5583, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5559-2026, 2026 Mountain glaciers are important freshwater reservoirs. Quantifying their loss is essential for forecasting water availability. While glacier retreat is well studied in many regions, glacier loss on the Nevados de Chillán volcanic complex in south-central Chile remains uncertain. Using satellite and drone images, we find all 28 glaciers on Nevados de Chillán lost volume over the past 7 decades, with melt rates accelerating markedly since 2000.  Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5533-2026 In-situ tracer percolation experiments to quantify the influence of near-surface melting on Svalbard snow signatures Dorothea Elisabeth Baur, Andrea Spolaor, Federico Scoto, and Elizabeth R. Thomas The Cryosphere, 20, 5533–5558, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5533-2026, 2026 The Arctic is warming rapidly, and winter rain-on-snow events are becoming more common. These events can alter snow layers and disturb climate information stored in glaciers. We studied how small rain-on-snow events affect snow structure and water isotopes near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Field experiments show that meltwater flow creates complex features, but isotope changes remain confined to them, meaning seasonal climate signals can still be preserved where enough snow accumulates. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5509-2026 Dynamic thinning and grounding line retreat in Porpoise Bay, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica Matilda Weatherley, Chris R. Stokes, Stewart S. R. Jamieson, Sindhu Ramanath, and Alessandro Silvano The Cryosphere, 20, 5509–5532, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5509-2026, 2026 Parts of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet rest on a bed below sea level, making them vulnerable to ice dynamic changes and instability, but few glaciers have been studied in detail. Here we report on glaciers draining into Porpoise Bay, Wilkes Land, overlying the Aurora Subglacial Basin. We find ice surface thinning, grounding line retreat and ice surface velocity increase over recent decades, consistent with warm ocean waters intrusion. This highlights this region's vulnerability to future warming. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5491-2026 Variability of internal snow properties over Antarctic late summer sea ice on different spatial scales Daria Paul, Danu Caus, Paul Keil, Christopher Kadow, and Stefanie Arndt The Cryosphere, 20, 5491–5508, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5491-2026, 2026 We studied how snow and its properties vary across Antarctic sea ice using detailed field measurements combined with machine learning methods. We found that differences between ice types are mainly due to how snow layers are arranged rather than their basic properties. Snow changes over short distances, meaning single measurements often miss this complexity. Capturing this variability is key to improving climate models and satellite estimates. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5475-2026 Impact of climate forcing time step in an ice-sheet firn model Tesse E. A. van den Aker, Peter Kuipers Munneke, Willem Jan van de Berg, Walter W. Immerzeel, and Michiel R. van den Broeke The Cryosphere, 20, 5475–5490, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5475-2026, 2026 The firn layer, i.e. permanent snow, regulates how an ice sheet responds to climate change. Firn models are forced with with climate data at time steps from sub-daily to annual in literature, however, implications are barely evaluated. We test the impact of different climate forcing time steps on the modeled firn layer. We conclude that the climate forcing time step (1) affects firn model output, (2) can lead to non-physical behaviour, and (3) that resolving at least a diurnal cycle is required. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5453-2026 Polythermal conditions in small glaciers in the Swiss Alps Janosch Beer, Mylène Jacquemart, Matthias Huss, Ilaria Santin, Gabriela Clara Racz, Christophe Ogier, Saskia Gindraux, Leo Hösli, Raphael Moser, James Irving, Mauro Fischer, and Daniel Farinotti The Cryosphere, 20, 5453–5473, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5453-2026, 2026 Small Alpine glaciers can exhibit a mix of cold and temperate ice, a polythermal structure, which can promote hazardous conditions. We drilled into six small Swiss glaciers and measured ice temperatures in boreholes. We found polythermal conditions in three of six sites and show that the thermal structure is linked to firn cover loss. Our results suggest that polythermal glaciers may be more common in the Alps than previously recognised. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5435-2026 Numerical modeling on the mechanisms of chlorine chemistry in snowpack and their impact on secondary atmospheric pollution Shengjin Xie, Xuelei Zhang, Aijun Xiu, Hong Qi, Shengrui Tong, Qianjie Chen, Chao Gao, Hongmei Zhao, Shichun Zhang, Stephen Dauda Yabo, Yiming Liu, Siting Li, and Mengduo Zhang The Cryosphere, 20, 5435–5451, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5435-2026, 2026 This study examines how snow-covered surfaces affect air pollution in Northeast China. Using numerical simulations, we explore chlorine-related chemical reactions that generate reactive species, enhancing fine particles and ozone. Results show that snow-surface reactions drive nighttime pollutant accumulation and notably improve model performance, providing new insights into how snow and surface chemistry influence regional air quality. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5401-2026 Seasonal to decadal evolution of firn properties and impacts on hydrology of the Juneau Icefield Annika N. Horlings, Juliana Ruef, C. Max Stevens, Mikaila Mannello, Keegan Bellamy, Tahi Wiggins, Bradley Markle, and Seth Campbell The Cryosphere, 20, 5401–5433, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5401-2026, 2026 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.  Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5271-2026 Accelerated lowland thermokarst development revealed by UAS photogrammetric surveys in the Stordalen mire, Abisko, Sweden Maxime Thomas, Thomas Moenaert, Julien Radoux, Baptiste Delhez, Eléonore du Bois d'Aische, Maëlle Villani, Catherine Hirst, Erik Lundin, François Jonard, Sébastien Lambot, Kristof Van Oost, Veerle Vanacker, Matthias B. Siewert, Carl-Magnus Mörth, Michael W. Palace, Ruth K. Varner, Franklin B. Sullivan, Christina Herrick, and Sophie Opfergelt The Cryosphere, 20, 5271–5301, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5271-2026, 2026 This study examines the rate of permafrost degradation, in the form of the transition from intact well-drained palsa to fully thawed and inundated fen at the Stordalen mire, Abisko, Sweden. Across the 14 hectares of the palsa mire, we demonstrate a 10-fold acceleration of the degradation in 2019–2021 compared to previous periods (1970–2014) which might lead to a pool of 12 × 10³ kg of organic carbon exposed annually for the topsoil (23 cm depth). Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5265-2026 Brief communication: Limitations of medical X-ray computed tomography for estimating ice content in permafrost samples Mahya Roustaei, Jonas Darey, Zakieh Mohammadi, and Daniel Fortier The Cryosphere, 20, 5265–5270, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5265-2026, 2026 This study assesses the accuracy of medical X-ray computed tomography (CT) for estimating volumetric ice content in permafrost samples. Comparison of 261 cores from northern Canada shows that medical CT systematically underestimates ice in sediment-rich samples and overestimates it in organic-rich ones due to resolution limits and material misclassification. The results highlight medical CT's value for visualizing cryostructures but its limits for quantitative ice estimation. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5365-2026 Feedbacks and timescales in the modelled transient response of debris-covered glaciers Florian Hardmeier, James C. Ferguson, and Andreas Vieli The Cryosphere, 20, 5365–5392, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5365-2026, 2026 As mountain glaciers are retreating, they are becoming increasingly debris-covered. We want to better understand how these glaciers respond to a changing climate. Here, we present an improved model that simulates transport of debris within and on the glacier. We find that short-term changes have a low impact due to long response times. However, long-term warming can lead to fast collapse of the glacier tongue after a phase of thinning, where debris cover expands and thickens. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5303-2026 The history of ground ice formation and intra-permafrost fluid flow as documented by Ra and Th isotopes Dotan Rotem, Yishai Weinstein, Yehudit Harlavan, Adi Torfstein, and Hanne Hvidtfeldt Christiansen The Cryosphere, 20, 5303–5326, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5303-2026, 2026 We investigated the residence time of ground ice in the Svalbard permafrost. Marked variations in salinity and the chemical composition were found in three proximal cores. Radioactive Ra and Th isotopes suggest that while some ice has a residence time of several thousands years, the more saline samples show lower long-to-short-lived Ra ratios, implying a residence time under 100 years. This indicates active within-permafrost flow, which highlights the system's resilience to global warming. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5345-2026 Parameterizing tidal-water intrusions in long-term Antarctic ice-sheet projections Antonio Juarez-Martinez, Alexander Robinson, Jan Swierczek-Jereczek, Javier Blasco, Jorge Alvarez-Solas, and Marisa Montoya The Cryosphere, 20, 5345–5363, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5345-2026, 2026 Tidal-water intrusions can cause warm ocean water to extend beneath grounded Antarctic ice, increasing submarine melting beyond the grounding line. Here, a new parameterization representing this effect is introduced and tested in the Yelmo ice-sheet model, revealing that tides could amplify ice loss and sea-level rise. This new parameterization shows good agreement with inferred grounding zones. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5327-2026 Substantial accumulation rates on a glacier avalanche cone from time-lapse photogrammetry and field measurements Marin Kneib, Patrick Wagnon, Laurent Arnaud, Louise Balmas, Olivier Laarman, Bruno Jourdain, Amaury Dehecq, Emmanuel Lemeur, Fanny Brun, Andrea Kneib-Walter, Ilaria Santin, Laurane Charrier, Thierry Faug, Giulia Mazzotti, Antoine Rabatel, Delphine Six, and Daniel Farinotti The Cryosphere, 20, 5327–5344, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5327-2026, 2026 Avalanches are vital for glacier survival, yet their impact is difficult to quantify. We used low-cost cameras and drones to monitor an avalanche cone in the French Alps for two years. By accounting for ice flow, we found that avalanches can deposit 30 meters of snow annually – 50 times more than normal snowfall. This high-frequency data reveals that these cones fill until reaching a specific steepness, after which new snow slides further down to the base. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5393-2026 Brief communication: On the potential of dual-coil frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) systems to detect frozen layers in mountain permafrost environments Mirko Pavoni, Mauro Guglielmin, Alexander Bast, Stefano Ponti, Emanuele Forte, Alberto Carrera, Luca Peruzzo, Simone Peracchi, Giorgio Cassiani, and Jacopo Boaga The Cryosphere, 20, 5393–5399, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5393-2026, 2026 This study explores the potential of the frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) method for investigating mountain permafrost environments such as rock glaciers. Although less accurate than electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), FDEM allows rapid measurements of subsurface electrical properties and requires much lower logistical effort, making it suitable for preliminary surveys in remote areas and for large-scale site characterization. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5247-2026 Temporal evolution of the Petermann Ice Shelf estuary constrained by satellite remote sensing observations Michela Savignano, Alison F. Banwell, Waleed Abdalati, Robin E. Bell, Alexandra Boghosian, W. Roger Buck, Sarah E. Esenther, Emily Glazer, Adam L. LeWinter, Laurence C. Smith, and Leigh A. Stearns The Cryosphere, 20, 5247–5263, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5247-2026, 2026 Surface rivers can transport meltwater from floating ice-shelves into the ocean, limiting ponding. However, if a river channel deepens to sea level, seawater can flow up into it and form an ice-shelf estuary. This adds load to the ice shelf and increases stresses that weaken the ice. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, we develop a new way to measure how quickly these rivers deepen, which we use to constrain the timing of Petermann Ice Shelf’s estuary formation over multiple melt seasons. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:46:52 +0200