Observed positive feedback between surface ablation and crevasse formation drives glacier acceleration and potential surge
Sudden glacier acceleration and instability, e.g. surges, strongly influence glacier ice loss. However, lack of in-situ observations of the involved processes hampers our ability to understand, quantify and model such a role. We present an analysis of the initiation of a surge (Kongsvegen glacier, Svalbard), focusing on the interplay between climatic and glacier-specific drivers. We integrate two decades of in-situ observations (GNSS, borehole and surface seismometers) with runoff simulations, and remotely sensed surface-elevation changes. We show that initial glacier thinning led to localized acceleration and crevassing. Then, we show that stronger surface melt enabled meltwater to reach the glacier bed. This input promotes high basal water pressure and glacier sliding, and in turn further surface crevassing. Our observations suggest that this positive feedback leads to the expansion of the initially localized instability. Our findings highlight mechanisms that could trigger glacier instabilities under a warming atmosphere beyond the High Arctic.
Authors
- Ugo Nanni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6677-6117)
- Erik Schytt Mannerfelt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9146-557X)
- Olivier Gagliardini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9162-3518)
- Andreas Köhler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1060-7637)
- Jack Kohler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1963-054X)
- Louise Steffensen Schmidt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6781-1906)
- François Renard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5125-5930)
- Henning Åkesson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9625-1976)
- John L. Hult
- Pierre-Marie Lefeuvre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5217-7102)
- Coline Bouchayer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5567-0763)
- Thomas V. Schuler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-3929)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre (FR)
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (FR)
- Université Gustave Eiffel (FR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Norsar (NO)
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc (FR)
- Norwegian Polar Institute (NO)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66349-9
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.90
Funders
- Universitetet i Oslo
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign