Durham Glaciology

Some glaciers can suddenly surge forward – with dangerous consequences A global study of 3,000 glaciers reveals the risks of surging ice in a warming world.

An @theconversation.com article on our recent paper on glacier surges, written with Chris Stokes @durhamglaciology.bsky.social:

theconversation.com/some-glacier...

A blue/green pool of water with a white, icy mountain glacier behind and snow-capped rocks in the background. Text on the image reads "Geographer Dr Caroline Clason has co-authored a UNESCO report on the effect of melting ice on people and planet."

We’re a leading centre for research into glaciers and ice sheets. Recently @carolineclason.bsky.social @geogdurham.bsky.social @durhamglaciology.bsky.social co-authored a major report for the UK National Commission for @unesco.org on the effect of melting ice on people and planet 👉 bit.ly/4r51PMl

A close up photograph of a mask-like human face decorating the shoulder of a lidded vessel or cauldron from the Melsonby hoard, shown upside down as found during excavation.

Our innovative and impactful research transforms lives and makes a difference, globally and locally.

Discover more in our Global Research Newsletter 👉 mailchi.mp/96a54d0bd591...

#DUresearch

It’s been a busy winter so far for us, with a selection of our activities recently highlighted in Durham University’s Global Research Newsletter: tinyurl.com/bdc88kk4
❄️
Find out more about just some of what we’ve been up to across Arctic, Antarctic and mountain glacier regions! tinyurl.com/mshk3ute

Caroline will explore glacier change in regions like the Andes & Himalayas, and what communities can do to adapt to a rapidly warming world.
📅 Mon 26 Jan 2026
🕑 2–3pm
📍 TLC106 or Teams
👉 lnkd.in/e2_jSwzp
A must‑attend for anyone interested in climate resilience and Earth’s disappearing ice.

🌍 IHRR Seminar
Join us for Dr Caroline Clason’s talk on the risks of glacier decline and what shrinking “mountain water towers” mean for global water, energy, and food security.

💧 “Thousands have lived without love, but not one without water.”

@geogdurham.bsky.social

Our first paper from the 'EPIC' project- 'How will Emperor Penguins Respond to Changing Ice Conditions?'🐧❄️ - is now out. 🎉

My first first-author penguin paper🐧! w co-authors @changingice.bsky.social, Chris Stokes, Melanie Marochov, @ptfretwell.bsky.social, Stéphanie Jenouvrier

tinyurl.com/4635pdwh

Congratulations to Cameron Powell who won the postgraduate poster prize at last week's @quaternaryra.bsky.social ADM in Brighton! There was lots of Durham palaeoglaciology research on show, including work by @hollyjenk.bsky.social and Molly Gath. 👇❄️

durhamglaciology.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/d...

📢 Excited to advertise a PhD opportunity at @geogdurham.bsky.social and @ihrr.bsky.social generously funded by the Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation. There are ten projects to select from (two highlighted below), and the deadline is 6th February. Learn more at: www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...

Polar Medal for two Durham glacial geologists We are delighted to announce that Professors Colm O’Cofaigh and Dave Roberts have been awarded the prestigious Polar Medal in the King’s New Year Honours list, which recognises outstanding achievem…

CONGRATULATIONS to @geogdurham.bsky.social's own Dave Roberts and Colm O'Cofaigh who have both been awarded the prestigious Polar Medal by the King in the 2026 New Year's Honours List. Such a well-deserved achievement for two excellent colleagues! ❄️🍾🥂

durhamglaciology.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/p...

Rivers on ice: understanding meltwater pathways on mountain glaciers A new study led by Holly Wytiahlowsky of the Durham Glaciology Group has just been published, providing insight into glacier hydrology by producing the first inventory of supraglacial channels on m…

@hollywytia.bsky.social has written a short, public-friendly blog post about her new paper in the Cryosphere about supraglacial (ice-surface) streams on Swiss glaciers. Learn more at the link below 👇

durhamglaciology.wordpress.com/2025/12/09/r...

Looking forward to co-chairing a new IACS Working Group on Cryosphere Stewardship. It aims to explore frameworks to address the diminishing cryosphere while strengthening coordinated action for its stewardship. We'll shortly be inviting the wider cryosphere community to join! ❄️ lnkd.in/eW4isT55

Distribution and characteristics of supraglacial channels on mountain glaciers in Valais, Switzerland Abstract. Supraglacial channels form a key component of glacier hydrology, transporting surface meltwater to englacial and proglacial positions, which impacts ice flow dynamics, surface mass balance a...

🚨 Interested in the form and variability of the supraglacial hydrological system? @hollywytia.bsky.social et al. explore the controls on channel distribution and characteristics on Swiss Alpine glaciers in a new paper hot off the press at The Cryosphere! ❄️ tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/...

Thinking about EGU 2026? Check out our session on "Impacts, risks and adaptation to a changing cryosphere"! We invite abstracts on a range of topics from cascading hazards to social and ecological impacts, resource security to environmental risk... 👇 meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/sessio...

A mountain glacier running into a pool of water.

@carolineclason.bsky.social @geogdurham.bsky.social @durhamglaciology.bsky.social has co-authored a major new report from the UK National Commission for UNESCO looking at the consequences of melting ice on people and planet. Discover more 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
@cop30brazil.bsky.social

Durham research informs report warning of dangerous acceleration of global ice loss - Durham University

Research by Prof Chris Stokes @geogdurham.bsky.social @durhamglaciology.bsky.social is part of a new report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative on the effect of climate on the world’s ice sheets. The report is presented at @cop30brazil.bsky.social 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

Professor Chris Stokes @geogdurham.bsky.social @durhamglaciology.bsky.social is at @cop30brazil.bsky.social sharing some of the science around ice sheets and sea level rise.
This includes a recent paper warning that warming of +1.5 °C is too high for polar ice sheets: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Durham glaciology's @carolineclason.bsky.social has contributed a chapter to a new UK National Commission for UNESCO report on Glaciers and Ice Sheets in a Warming World (and managed to get one of her photos on the front cover!). Find out more in the posts below and www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

The application deadline is 5th January 2026, and primary supervisors will be happy to help if you have any questions about individual projects. International (non-UK) applicants must contact potential supervisors by no later than 8th December 2025 if they would like to be considered.

Opportunities PhD scholarships We are currently advertising a range of glaciology/polar-related projects (listed below) funded by the 2026/27 IAPETUS DTP studentship competition. For information on funding, elig…

📣 We are advertising a range of glaciology/polar PhD projects at @geogdurham.bsky.social funded by @iapetusdtp.bsky.social. ❄️ For more information on these projects, and info on eligibility, support for under-represented groups, and how to apply, visit durhamglaciology.wordpress.com/opportunities/

Reindeer in Ljungris, Berg Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden. Arild Vågen.

Excited to advertise a new interdisciplinary PhD opportunity at @geogdurham.bsky.social - "From ice to ecosystem: assessing the risk of glacier melt and legacy contamination for reindeer in Sápmi (Lapland)" ❄️ 🦌

To learn more about the project and how to apply visit: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...

📣 Deadline extended until 30th November!

We welcome submissions from studies offering both modern and palaeo perspectives of ice streams and outlet glaciers and hope this special collection will help to cross-pollinate ideas and theoretical insights into one of glaciology's most important topics! ❄️

An ice sheet juts out into the ocean.

Geoengineering ideas to tackle #climate breakdown at the poles will not help and could harm, according to new research involving Professor Mike Bentley @mikebentley.bsky.social and Professor Chris Stokes of @geogdurham.bsky.social. Discover more 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

Ice Streams and Outlet Glaciers - call for papers | IGS The International Glaciological Society (IGS) will prepare a special collection of the Annals of Glaciology with the theme ‘Ice Streams and Outlet

A reminder that submissions are now open for the @igsoc.bsky.social special collection of the Annals of Glaciology on ‘Ice Streams and Outlet Glaciers’. Accepted papers will be published continuously and will be brought together in an online thematic collection in 2026: www.igsoc.org/ice-streams-...

Looking forward to convening the @geolsoc.bsky.social GeoFutures conference on 15th September. We have five fantastic keynote talks (including by @klausdodds.bsky.social who will discuss "making sense of a no longer reliably frozen Arctic" ❄️). Come join us online! www.geolsoc.org.uk/events/geofu...

Congratulations Lokesh, it was a fantastic presentation!

Big shout-outs also to three brilliant female scientists who were presented with IGS awards during the symposium... Dorthe Dahl-Jensen who received the Seligman Crystal, @icymatters.bsky.social who received the Firn Award, and @iceybethan.bsky.social who received the Richardson Medal. 🥂

Reflecting back on how enjoyable it was to host the @igsoc.bsky.social Symposium here at @geogdurham.bsky.social. A big thank you to everyone who attended, presented and contributed to organisation! It was lovely to see so many friendly faces and to hear about some fantastic glaciological science! ❄️

Another great day of the IGS symposium, with a field trip visiting evidence of glaciation in upper Teesdale, Eden Valley drumlins at Brough Castle, the fluvioglacial landscape of the Brampton Kame Belt, and streamlined bedforms from Tyne Gap ice streaming (plus Roman archaeology) at Hadrian's Wall!