Satellite data is helping scientists understand how towering ice cliffs at the fronts of some glaciers may fail as the climate warms. The behaviour is still uncertain, but the study suggests collapses may happen in bursts rather than steadily.
01Summary
- 01Scientists are studying ice cliffs at the leading edge of some glaciers that loom over the sea.
- 02The article says the key question is how these cliffs will behave as the climate warms.
- 03Satellite data has offered clues, but the behaviour is still not known for sure.
- 04The study suggests collapse may happen in fits and starts rather than in a single continuous event.
02Why it matters
This matters because ice-cliff collapse can affect how quickly glaciers retreat and how much ice enters the ocean. That has implications for future sea-level rise.
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