Monitoring arctic Glaciers AUV surveys glacier fronts in Norway for climate studies

These observations show how the seafloor can influence the water masses in the glacial-front environment and in some cases lead to warmer water being actively introduced into the fjord and, hence, promoting glacier retreat. Shallow-water sills within the fjord can promote mixing; while they can protect the glacier front from direct contact with the warming Atlantic water, they can also enhance local circulation, driven in part by the meltwater injection from the glacier.