Project Description
Arctic glaciers are retreating rapidly and many processes driving these changes are directly related to water. The amount of water on a glacier is controlled mainly by atmospheric conditions determining precipitation (amount, timing, and rain vs. snow) and melting. The amounts and pathways of rain and meltwater through the glacier affect glacier motion; changes in subglacial water pressure and drainage system can trigger fast flow events (e.g., surges, glacier collapses). Water stored by glaciers or moraines can cause catastrophic outburst floods, and seasonal-to-decadal changes in glacier mass alter basin runoff, terrestrial hydrology, flood risks, and the freshwater input to the fjords and oceans, thus impacting marine ecosystems and fjord circulation.
We propose a cross-cutting activity on “From snowflakes to floods: Arctic glacier hydrology and downstream impacts”, aiming to bring together glaciologists, atmosphere, ocean and terrestrial researchers, and discuss the role of water in driving Arctic glacier change and impacts. The cross-cutting activity will be implemented during the annual workshop of the IASC Network on Arctic Glaciology (NAG; http://nag.iasc.info) “Dynamics and Mass Budget of Arctic Glaciers” in Hafsfell (Lillehammer), Norway, in February 2027.
Date and Location
February 2027, Hafsfell (Lillehammer), Norway
IASC Working Groups funding the project
- Atmosphere WG
- Cryosphere WG
Project Lead
Regine Hock (University of Oslo, Norway)
Year funded by IASC
2026