Research reveals increasing surface meltwater in East Antarctica

Research conducted at the University of Leeds has helped to uncover a trend of increasing surface meltwater in East Antarctica, raising questions about future ice sheet behaviour.

In an ambitious new study, the team, led by the University of York, produced the first Antarctic-wide, high-resolution monthly dataset of surface meltwater using satellite images.

The research raises questions about the future behaviour of the ice sheet because surface meltwater is predicted to become increasingly important for Antarctic mass loss as atmospheric temperatures rise.

Antarctica matters to us all

Dr Pete Tuckett, lead author of the study and a visiting research fellow in the School of Geography, explained that the research has significant potential to change the way policymakers see the Antarctic continent and underlines the speed of change in its ice sheets. 

He said: “Antarctica has traditionally been considered too cold for substantial amounts of surface melting to take place. Our study shows that not only does surface meltwater exist around large parts of the Antarctic margin, but the amount of surface meltwater in East Antarctica is increasing.”

Landsat 8 satellite image, meltwater ponds on the Amery Ice Shelf. USGS Landsat 8 imagery, processed by Pete Tuckett

Increased meltwater ponding

The research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, reveals a significant increase in the amount of meltwater ponding on the ice surface around the vast East Antarctic ice sheet, and more variability from one year to the next. This comprehensive study, utilising cloud computing to analyse over 133,000 satellite images, highlights the growing influence of atmospheric warming on the continent's ice sheets. 

The study shows that surface meltwater covered an average of 3,732 km²—more than twice the area of Greater London—across Antarctica each melt season. While meltwater area varied significantly across the continent and between years, the research uncovered a concerning result: the ice sheet surface in East Antarctica may be becoming more susceptible to meltwater ponding.

Understanding where and why surface meltwater is changing in Antarctica is crucial for predicting the continent's future contribution to our oceans. It’s a global story.

Ice stability concern

The Antarctic Ice Sheet contains enough water to raise global sea level by around 58 metres, and researchers are keen to understand what impact continued increases in global atmospheric temperature will have on the future behaviour of the ice sheet. 

Dr Tuckett explained: “The increasing area of surface meltwater in East Antarctica, without a corresponding increase in snow melt, indicates a potential shift in the ice sheet's surface properties, making it more prone to retaining meltwater in ponds.”

Ponded meltwater is a critical factor in ice sheet stability. It can lead to ice-shelf breakup through water-driven cracking, enhance localised melting, and influence the movement of ice on land (‘grounded ice’), potentially accelerating its flow towards the ocean.

Sentinel 2 satellite image, meltwater ponds on the Amery Ice Shelf. Copernicus Sentinel 2 data, processed by Pete Tuckett

Dr Tuckett added: “It is key that this new dataset is now combined with climate models, other satellite observations, and on-the-ground measurements to better understand the underlying causes of the increased meltwater ponding in East Antarctica and its potential future impacts on ice sheet stability and sea levels.

"Understanding where and why surface meltwater is changing in Antarctica is crucial for predicting the continent's future contribution to our oceans. It’s a global story.”

The research was led by the University of York, in collaboration with the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool, and the British Antarctic Survey.

Research citation

Tuckett, P., Sole, A., Livingstone, S., Jones, J., Lea, J., & Gilbert, E. (2025). Continent-wide mapping shows increasing sensitivity of East Antarctica to meltwater ponding. Nature Climate Change. 10.1038/s41558-025-02363-5