Greenland’s glaciers constantly reshape the landscape as they flow, thin and retreat. Yet much of their behaviour depends on what lies beneath them: the thickness of the ice and the shape of the underlying bedrock. These features determine how quickly glaciers respond to warming, how much meltwater they deliver to fjords and how they contribute to global sea-level rise.
Within the Glaciology research cluster, scientists use advanced geophysical methods to map the internal structure of glaciers and the topography beneath those flowing along Greenland’s west coast. Using helicopter-borne radar, researchers can measure ice thickness, detect buried layers and reveal deep valleys, ridges and channels carved by past glaciations. These high-resolution observations help identify pathways for ice flow and the areas most sensitive to warming.
Another key focus of the group is improving predictions of future glacier melt, for which understanding glacier geometry is essential. The data collected will feed into existing models, enhancing predictions of how ice volumes may evolve over the coming decades – including how much freshwater will reach the ocean and influence ecosystems in Arctic fjords and the North Atlantic.
These efforts aim to offer a clearer view of a still little-known part of Greenland and to strengthen our ability to anticipate the rapid changes unfolding across the Arctic’s frozen landscapes.
Outcomes:
- Revealing the current shape of Greenland’s glaciers: producing detailed maps of ice thickness and subglacial landscapes that help explain how glaciers flow and respond to warming.
- Identifying areas most vulnerable to change: pinpointing where ice is thinning fastest, where bedrock topography accelerates retreat and where future meltwater will be routed.
- Improving predictions of future melt and sea-level rise: providing essential data for next-generation glacier models, helping forecast how freshwater from the ice sheet will impact fjords, ecosystems and the North Atlantic.
Research Projects:
- MAGIC – Mapping glacier’s ice thickness along the CASCADES route