James Kirkham
@jdkirkham.bsky.social
Climate 🌡️ | Glaciology 🧊 | Science diplomacy 🗺️ | Policy 📜
Chief Science Advisor and Coordinator of the ‘Ambition on Melting Ice’ high level group on Sea-Level Rise and Mountain Water Resources
https://ambitionmeltingice.org/membership/
Chief Science Advisor and Coordinator of the ‘Ambition on Melting Ice’ high level group on Sea-Level Rise and Mountain Water Resources
https://ambitionmeltingice.org/membership/
Shocking stats from this paper on the extreme 2024 summer heat in Arctic Svalbard, which lost 1% of its total ice volume in just ~6 weeks. 🔥
In fact, Svalbard's 2024 glacier mass loss actually exceeded that of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is 50 times larger!!! 😱
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
❄️🧪🌊
In fact, Svalbard's 2024 glacier mass loss actually exceeded that of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is 50 times larger!!! 😱
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
❄️🧪🌊
August 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Shocking stats from this paper on the extreme 2024 summer heat in Arctic Svalbard, which lost 1% of its total ice volume in just ~6 weeks. 🔥
In fact, Svalbard's 2024 glacier mass loss actually exceeded that of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is 50 times larger!!! 😱
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
❄️🧪🌊
In fact, Svalbard's 2024 glacier mass loss actually exceeded that of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is 50 times larger!!! 😱
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
❄️🧪🌊
Good to see a critical appraisal of some of the proposed #Antarctic geoengineering schemes included in this report given the hype and wild headlines these ideas continue to generate in popular media
June 10, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Good to see a critical appraisal of some of the proposed #Antarctic geoengineering schemes included in this report given the hype and wild headlines these ideas continue to generate in popular media
Pakistan PM gives a rousing speech at the opening of the High Level conference on glacier preservation, warning that impacts of glacier loss will not be solved with speeches; only immediate and urgent implementation of action is at a global scale will prevent loss and suffering
May 30, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Pakistan PM gives a rousing speech at the opening of the High Level conference on glacier preservation, warning that impacts of glacier loss will not be solved with speeches; only immediate and urgent implementation of action is at a global scale will prevent loss and suffering
⏰ New study shows ambitious mitigation (1.5°C) saves 2X as much ice globally (53% left) than our current pathway, which will destroy >75% glacier ice once it fully adjusts to a warmer climate
Every fraction of °C counts!
+0.1°C warmer = 2% more glacier mass lost
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🌊🧪
Every fraction of °C counts!
+0.1°C warmer = 2% more glacier mass lost
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🌊🧪
May 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
⏰ New study shows ambitious mitigation (1.5°C) saves 2X as much ice globally (53% left) than our current pathway, which will destroy >75% glacier ice once it fully adjusts to a warmer climate
Every fraction of °C counts!
+0.1°C warmer = 2% more glacier mass lost
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🌊🧪
Every fraction of °C counts!
+0.1°C warmer = 2% more glacier mass lost
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🌊🧪
The International Conference on Glaciers Preservation kicks off today with a Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Glacier Preservation and Water Cooperation #glaciers2025
May 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The International Conference on Glaciers Preservation kicks off today with a Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Glacier Preservation and Water Cooperation #glaciers2025
Delighted that our recent paper on the disintegration of the British-Irish Ice Sheet's ice shelves has been included as an Editors’ Highlight in the 50 best Earth Science papers recently published in @natcomms.nature.com!
Full paper can be found here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Full paper can be found here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
April 30, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Delighted that our recent paper on the disintegration of the British-Irish Ice Sheet's ice shelves has been included as an Editors’ Highlight in the 50 best Earth Science papers recently published in @natcomms.nature.com!
Full paper can be found here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Full paper can be found here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Pleased to see this story is currently trending no. 1 on BBC News... although slightly worried people are thinking there are icebergs NOW off the coast of the UK… 🫢
April 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Pleased to see this story is currently trending no. 1 on BBC News... although slightly worried people are thinking there are icebergs NOW off the coast of the UK… 🫢
More work needs to be done to calculate the main drivers responsible for the loss of UK’s ice shelves.
Better dating of the sediments in which the ploughmarks are found might provide an answer - offering an intriguing possibility to shed more light on this ancient story for future research…
Better dating of the sediments in which the ploughmarks are found might provide an answer - offering an intriguing possibility to shed more light on this ancient story for future research…
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
More work needs to be done to calculate the main drivers responsible for the loss of UK’s ice shelves.
Better dating of the sediments in which the ploughmarks are found might provide an answer - offering an intriguing possibility to shed more light on this ancient story for future research…
Better dating of the sediments in which the ploughmarks are found might provide an answer - offering an intriguing possibility to shed more light on this ancient story for future research…
So what does all this mean for how Antarctica might respond in a warming world?
One of the largest unknowns of future sea-level rise projections is how Antarctic ice shelves, and the icebergs that break off them, will react to climate warming.
One of the largest unknowns of future sea-level rise projections is how Antarctic ice shelves, and the icebergs that break off them, will react to climate warming.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
So what does all this mean for how Antarctica might respond in a warming world?
One of the largest unknowns of future sea-level rise projections is how Antarctic ice shelves, and the icebergs that break off them, will react to climate warming.
One of the largest unknowns of future sea-level rise projections is how Antarctic ice shelves, and the icebergs that break off them, will react to climate warming.
There are very few examples of this transition behaviour in our short satellite record.
But perhaps the best is what happened to Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002 when warm air caused meltwater to cover its surface; this then shattered the ice into countless small bergs over just a week.
But perhaps the best is what happened to Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002 when warm air caused meltwater to cover its surface; this then shattered the ice into countless small bergs over just a week.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
There are very few examples of this transition behaviour in our short satellite record.
But perhaps the best is what happened to Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002 when warm air caused meltwater to cover its surface; this then shattered the ice into countless small bergs over just a week.
But perhaps the best is what happened to Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002 when warm air caused meltwater to cover its surface; this then shattered the ice into countless small bergs over just a week.
We can even detect the collapse of these ice shelves around 18,000 yrs ago when we found a shift in the type of iceberg ploughmark produced by giant tabular bergs (reflecting the normal calving lifecycle of ice shelves) to more numerous and smaller bergs as the North Sea ice shelves disintegrated.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We can even detect the collapse of these ice shelves around 18,000 yrs ago when we found a shift in the type of iceberg ploughmark produced by giant tabular bergs (reflecting the normal calving lifecycle of ice shelves) to more numerous and smaller bergs as the North Sea ice shelves disintegrated.
From the size of the iceberg ploughmarks, we estimate that the UK ice shelves were probably similar in size to some of the smaller ones surrounding Antarctica today, like the Brunt Ice Shelf. Today, 75% of Antarctica is surrounded by ice shelves.
Image: Furst et al. 2016
Image: Furst et al. 2016
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
From the size of the iceberg ploughmarks, we estimate that the UK ice shelves were probably similar in size to some of the smaller ones surrounding Antarctica today, like the Brunt Ice Shelf. Today, 75% of Antarctica is surrounded by ice shelves.
Image: Furst et al. 2016
Image: Furst et al. 2016
Only extensive ice shelves can produce tabular icebergs of this unique shape and size.
Our new work thus provides the first direct evidence that ice shelves surrounded the UK during the last glacial period and likely affected the behaviour of the ice sheet.
Our new work thus provides the first direct evidence that ice shelves surrounded the UK during the last glacial period and likely affected the behaviour of the ice sheet.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Only extensive ice shelves can produce tabular icebergs of this unique shape and size.
Our new work thus provides the first direct evidence that ice shelves surrounded the UK during the last glacial period and likely affected the behaviour of the ice sheet.
Our new work thus provides the first direct evidence that ice shelves surrounded the UK during the last glacial period and likely affected the behaviour of the ice sheet.
The comb-like pattern of these tabular icebergs ‘doodles’ had not been seen before offshore of the UK due to lesser data resolution of previous research, which had only documented smaller single keeled marks.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
The comb-like pattern of these tabular icebergs ‘doodles’ had not been seen before offshore of the UK due to lesser data resolution of previous research, which had only documented smaller single keeled marks.
We mapped the distinctive plough-marks these spectacular giants carved as their undersides dragged across the seafloor of the North Sea as they drifted in currents out towards the ocean.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We mapped the distinctive plough-marks these spectacular giants carved as their undersides dragged across the seafloor of the North Sea as they drifted in currents out towards the ocean.
Cast your mind back to around 20 to 18 thousand years ago when the UK was covered in a giant ice sheet stretching from Scotland to Manchester.
Parts of this ice sheet reached the North Sea, where giant icebergs dotted the horizon.
Parts of this ice sheet reached the North Sea, where giant icebergs dotted the horizon.
April 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Cast your mind back to around 20 to 18 thousand years ago when the UK was covered in a giant ice sheet stretching from Scotland to Manchester.
Parts of this ice sheet reached the North Sea, where giant icebergs dotted the horizon.
Parts of this ice sheet reached the North Sea, where giant icebergs dotted the horizon.
Productive couple of days at the @wmo-global.bsky.social working on a white paper as part of the Expert Team on Cryosphere related Services (JET-CRYO)
April 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Productive couple of days at the @wmo-global.bsky.social working on a white paper as part of the Expert Team on Cryosphere related Services (JET-CRYO)
Whilst exploring New York ahead of meetings on climate ambition and NDCs, I came across this interesting resiliency outreach effort along shoreline of Manhattan's financial district.
Blue line (~3-4 m above current high tide line) shows height of potential flooding by 2050 from a 1/100 year storm
Blue line (~3-4 m above current high tide line) shows height of potential flooding by 2050 from a 1/100 year storm
March 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Whilst exploring New York ahead of meetings on climate ambition and NDCs, I came across this interesting resiliency outreach effort along shoreline of Manhattan's financial district.
Blue line (~3-4 m above current high tide line) shows height of potential flooding by 2050 from a 1/100 year storm
Blue line (~3-4 m above current high tide line) shows height of potential flooding by 2050 from a 1/100 year storm
A couple of images dotting the walls here at UNESCO today - sadly, we've not done a good job of protecting our glaciers so far and the vital services they provide.
As we enter into the Year of Glacier Preservation, we need a step change in policy action to protect these vital resources globally
As we enter into the Year of Glacier Preservation, we need a step change in policy action to protect these vital resources globally
March 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
A couple of images dotting the walls here at UNESCO today - sadly, we've not done a good job of protecting our glaciers so far and the vital services they provide.
As we enter into the Year of Glacier Preservation, we need a step change in policy action to protect these vital resources globally
As we enter into the Year of Glacier Preservation, we need a step change in policy action to protect these vital resources globally
Agnes Pannier Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, calls for strong mobilisation, multi lateralism and support for EU and UN to confront the challenges of glacier loss.
"Glacial melt does not end at borders"
"Glacial melt does not end at borders"
March 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Agnes Pannier Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, calls for strong mobilisation, multi lateralism and support for EU and UN to confront the challenges of glacier loss.
"Glacial melt does not end at borders"
"Glacial melt does not end at borders"
Audrey Azoilay, DG of @unesco.org opens the International Year of Glacier Preservation in Paris with a call to action, increased multi-lateral cooperation and awareness raising and education
March 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Audrey Azoilay, DG of @unesco.org opens the International Year of Glacier Preservation in Paris with a call to action, increased multi-lateral cooperation and awareness raising and education
At @unesco.org today in Paris discussing how to secure a strong policy legacy of the Decade of #Action for Cryospheric Sciences
Rapid emissions reductions NOW are critical to ensure that the world is able to adapt in time to the consequences of global ice losses and for reducing #loss and #damage
Rapid emissions reductions NOW are critical to ensure that the world is able to adapt in time to the consequences of global ice losses and for reducing #loss and #damage
March 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
At @unesco.org today in Paris discussing how to secure a strong policy legacy of the Decade of #Action for Cryospheric Sciences
Rapid emissions reductions NOW are critical to ensure that the world is able to adapt in time to the consequences of global ice losses and for reducing #loss and #damage
Rapid emissions reductions NOW are critical to ensure that the world is able to adapt in time to the consequences of global ice losses and for reducing #loss and #damage
Honoured to have given the final glaciology lecture of the year this morning to third year undergraduates at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge.
March 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Honoured to have given the final glaciology lecture of the year this morning to third year undergraduates at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge.
Complete garbage in @telegraphnews.bsky.social
Antarctica has the most amazing, diverse and fragile wildlife in the world
Reserved for peace & science since 1950s, in these challenging times, nations need to throw their weight behind protecting this visionary agreement, not look to undermine it
Antarctica has the most amazing, diverse and fragile wildlife in the world
Reserved for peace & science since 1950s, in these challenging times, nations need to throw their weight behind protecting this visionary agreement, not look to undermine it
January 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Complete garbage in @telegraphnews.bsky.social
Antarctica has the most amazing, diverse and fragile wildlife in the world
Reserved for peace & science since 1950s, in these challenging times, nations need to throw their weight behind protecting this visionary agreement, not look to undermine it
Antarctica has the most amazing, diverse and fragile wildlife in the world
Reserved for peace & science since 1950s, in these challenging times, nations need to throw their weight behind protecting this visionary agreement, not look to undermine it
Global average temperatures for 2024 were 1.6C above the preindustrial period.
That's about 0.1C above the previous record set in 2023, and means the last 10 years are now the 10 warmest years on record.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
That's about 0.1C above the previous record set in 2023, and means the last 10 years are now the 10 warmest years on record.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
January 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Global average temperatures for 2024 were 1.6C above the preindustrial period.
That's about 0.1C above the previous record set in 2023, and means the last 10 years are now the 10 warmest years on record.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
That's about 0.1C above the previous record set in 2023, and means the last 10 years are now the 10 warmest years on record.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...