Overview

• A study published on May 8, 2025, confirms that West Antarctic glaciers can siphon ice from neighboring streams in less than 18 years, overturning assumptions that such processes take centuries.
• High-resolution satellite data from ESA’s Sentinel-1 and CryoSat missions tracked dramatic changes in glacial velocity, with some streams accelerating by up to 87% between 2005 and 2022.
• The Kohler East Glacier, one of the fastest-moving streams, has absorbed ice from the slower Kohler West Glacier, causing a 10% slowdown in Kohler West over the study period.
• Researchers emphasize the importance of ice flow redirection as a critical factor in ice-sheet dynamics, with implications for sea-level rise and the stability of floating ice shelves.
• Projections from the study warn that if current trends continue, rising sea levels could endanger over 410 million people globally by 2100, underscoring the urgency of climate adaptation efforts.