Researchers have analyzed various properties of drumlins within individual drumlin fields in order to provide evidence to help in identifying the processes involved in drumlin formation. One property which has been examined is the spatial distribution of drumlins within a field. Traditionally, in such endeavours the individual drumlins have been represented as points and their distribution examined using techniques of point-pattern analysis. We suggest that not only is such a representation inappropriate at this scale, it also introduces statistical bias which makes the results of such analyses questionable. Consequently, we propose an alternative approach which involves representing individual drumlins as areal phenomena and considering their pattern as a two-phase mosaic. The advantages of such an approach are discussed and it is illustrated by applying it to two different drumlin fields.

This study investigates the geodetic mass balance of nearly all glaciers in the Ladakh region, which are crucial for local water security. Utilizing multiple digital elevation models from 2000 and 2021, we estimate glacier mass balances. Climatic drivers of glacier mass balances are explored using ERA5-Land reanalysis data, evaluated by in situ climate data. The study also examines the role of nonclimatic (morphological) variables on glacier mass balances. Results indicate Ladakh glaciers experienced negative mass balances during 2000–2021, with significant spatial variability. Western Ladakh glaciers lost slightly higher mass (−0.35 ± 0.07 to −0.37 ± 0.07 m w.e. a−1) than eastern Ladakh glaciers (−0.21 ± 0.07 to −0.33 ± 0.05 m w.e. a−1). While warming is the main driver of widespread mass loss in Ladakh, the spatial variability in mass loss is attributed to changes in regional precipitation and glacier morphological settings. Eastern Ladakh glaciers, being smaller and at higher elevations, experience lower mass loss, whereas western Ladakh glaciers, larger and at lower elevations, are more susceptible to the impact of temperature, resulting in higher mass loss. The study underscores the potentially greater vulnerability of western Ladakh glaciers to a warming climate compared to their eastern counterparts.

Formulae for calculating temperature profiles in steady-state ice sheets are derived in terms of the horizontal and vertical velocities of the surface ice, and of the variation in surface temperature along the flow lines. Two models are considered: parallel flow and radial flow. In each case the result consists of a “stationary” term (equivalent to Robin's equation), a term dependent on the horizontal velocity, and a term arising from the temperature variations. This last term produces reversals in the temperature field such as are measured in practice.

A number of measurements of ice flow in the coastal regions of Antarctica are given. Observations show that the general outward movement of the continental ice, termed “sheet flow”, is locally accelerated where “ice streams” are formed. Estimates indicate that ice streams, which only occupy a small fraction of the total length of coast, are responsible for the removal of more ice from the continent than the “sheet flow” over the remaining length of coast. Further estimates suggest that the great bulk of Antarctic icebergs are produced by ice shelves, but that data on ice shelf movement are inadequate at the time of writing.

The ice movement on the Byrd Glacier, Antarctica, was measured as function of time, on the basis of aerial photography. The method of aero-levelling strip triangulation with a minimum of geodetic control was applied. The methods and procedures were verified over Laufen-Bauma test area.

An analysis is made of the rate of bubble coalescence in an ice mass that is deforming. A total strain of at least 8 is required before appreciable coalescence occurs. The analysis has been applied to deforming ice shelves and ice sheets. No appreciable coalescence is expected in ice shelves but coalescence should occur in ice sheets (or glaciers) if the shear strain-rate at the bottom surface is of the order of 0·075/year or larger. Measurements of bubble concentration are capable of setting limits on paleo-strain-rates of the present ice sheets. Bubble migration down temperature gradients presents complications to the study of bubble coalescence.

Surface height changes above three previously undetected subglacial lakes in northeastern Greenland are documented using CryoSat, DEMs and ICESat-2. Between 7 February and 6 March 2012, the central ice region (22.6 km2) above the largest lake dropped by ~37 m followed by a further drop of 12 m in the following 29 days. This implies a subglacial water outflow, or jökulhlaup, of at least 1 km3 at rates of hundreds of cubic meters per second. A comparable outflow occurred again between 23 July and 15 September 2019, with smaller outflows in the fall of 2014 and 2016. In contrast, a second smaller subglacial lake at a higher elevation had two subglacial outbursts of ~0.3 km3 in 2012 and 2019 but the lake filling was gradual and not strongly seasonal or episodic. Water remained in both lakes after the outflows but this may not be the case for the third smallest and lowest subglacial lake. While there appears to be some hydrological link between the three lakes, the flux of water moving under the ice in this area appears to be larger than would be expected from local summer melt. However, the source of the excess water remains uncertain.

An approximate analysis of (he processes of inciting and freezing of a drill hole, 500 m depth and 0.15 m m initial radius, through an ice shelf was made. Results are expressed in graphical form showing the time available for experimentation under the hole as a function of heating duration. It was also found that refreezing has a much slower rate than melting.

Changes in iceberg calving fluxes and oceanographic conditions around Antarctica have likely influenced the spatial and temporal distribution of iceberg fresh water fluxes to the surrounding ocean basins. However, Antarctic iceberg melt rate estimates have been limited to very large icebergs in the open ocean. Here we use a remote-sensing approach to estimate iceberg melt rates from 2011 to 2022 for 15 study sites around Antarctica. Melt rates generally increase with iceberg draft and follow large-scale variations in ocean temperature: maximum melt rates for the western peninsula, western ice sheet, eastern ice sheet and eastern peninsula are ~50, ~40, ~5 and ~5 m a−1, respectively. Iceberg melt sensitivity to thermal forcing varies widely, with a best-estimate increase in melting of ~24 m a−1°C−1 and range from near-zero to ~100 m a−1°C−1. Variations in water shear likely contribute to the apparent spread in thermal forcing sensitivity across sites. Although the sensitivity of iceberg melt rates to water shear prevents the use of melt rates as a proxy to infer coastal water mass temperature variability, additional coastal iceberg melt observations will likely improve models of Southern Ocean fresh water fluxes and have potential for subglacial discharge plume mapping.

Equations are derived, using a total potential-energy formulation, which predict the wavelength of the dominant wave pattern of a flowing snow slab. Account is taken of the visco-elastic properties of an assumed surface layer of snow which overlays a distinct visco-elastic foundation layer of snow. The predicted wave pattern is recognized as a precursory mechanism which influences the characteristics of the sawtooth flank fracture pattern that may remain following a snow avalanche, particularly on broad, uniform slopes. The parameters that influence the wave pattern are determined by an order-of-magnitu de reduction of the terms in the governing differential equation for visco-elastic slab response.