"Though they look still on the surface, millions of optical and radar satellite images collected from 2014-2022 reveal that the rate of each glacier's flow depends on the season and geographic location. In Arctic regions of Russia and Europe, for instance, glaciers typically reach top speeds during summer or early fall, while in Alaska, they accelerate the most during spring."
"Overall, the earth has over 200,000 of these ice masses, and by tracking the motion of crevasses and surface debris, scientists were able to determine their unique "fingerprints." But more importantly, "the findings can contribute to forecasting glacier behavior, which affects global sea-level rise, regional ecosystem health, ocean circulation, mountain freshwater resources, local hazard exposure, and cultural practices around glaciers,""
Satellite imagery from 2014–2022 reveals that glaciers across the globe are active and display pulsating movement throughout the year. Meltwater from warm air can percolate to glacier bases and act as a lubricant, accelerating flow. Seasonal speed peaks vary by region: Arctic glaciers often speed up in summer or early fall, while Alaskan glaciers accelerate most in spring. Over 200,000 glaciers show unique flow signatures detectable by tracking crevasses and surface debris. These dynamic patterns influence forecasts of glacier behavior and have implications for sea-level rise, ecosystems, ocean circulation, freshwater supplies, hazards, and cultural practices tied to glaciers.
Read at SFGATE
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