16 November 2012

Biological processes on glacier and ice sheet surfaces

Author Marek Stilbal collecting cryoconite on the ice cap. Photo: Carsten Suhr, GEUS.

In an article in Nature Geoscience CENPERM scientist Marek Stilbal and co-researchers reveal news about the biological processes associated with glaciers and ice sheets. Field observations and laboratory experiments suggest that biological processes that occur on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets — collectively termed supraglacial environments — can affect the physical behaviour of glaciers by changing surface reflectivity.

PROGRESS ARTICLE PUBLISHED ONLINE: 28 OCTOBER 2012 | DOI: 10.1038/NGEO1611