Accelerating glacier loss on Juneau Icefield driven by hypsometry and feedbacks

The study published in Nature Communications discusses the accelerating glacier volume loss on the Juneau Icefield in Alaska driven by hypsometry and melt-accelerating feedbacks. The research shows that ice loss from the icefield increased significantly after 2005, with rates of area shrinkage five times faster from 2015-2019 compared to 1979-1990. Glacier volume loss remained consistent from 1770-1979 but rose sharply from 1979-2010 and doubled after 2010. Thinning, recession, and fragmentation have become widespread across the icefield plateau since 2005, leading to hypsometrically controlled melt-accelerating feedbacks. The rising equilibrium line altitudes and increasing ablation have contributed to the observed acceleration in mass loss. The study highlights the vulnerability of Alaskan icefields to accelerated melt as the climate warms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the physical processes affecting glacier response to climate change. The findings suggest that continued glacier thinning may inhibit future regrowth, potentially pushing glaciers beyond a dynamic tipping point. The research provides valuable insights into the impact of climate change on glacier dynamics and sea level rise.