<\/p>\n
Edge\u00f8ya, an island in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago, is defined by stark Arctic expanses and rugged terrain. Still, even here\u2014halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole\u2014life persists, from mosses to polar bears. The southern lobe of Stonebreen, a glacier that flows from the Edge\u00f8yj\u00f8kulen ice cap into the Barents Sea, gives the landscape a different kind of life. Its ice pulses like a heart.<\/p>\n
The apparent heartbeat comes from the ice speeding up and slowing down with the seasons. This animation, based on satellite data collected between 2014 and 2022, shows how fast the glacier\u2019s surface ice moves on average during each month. In winter and spring, the ice flows relatively slowly (pink); by late summer, it races toward the sea at speeds exceeding 1,200 meters per year in places (dark red). In summer 2020, speeds reached as high as 2,590 meters per year<\/a> (23 feet per day).<\/p>\nIn general, summer speedups are caused by meltwater that percolates from the surface down to the base of the glacier, where the ice sits on rock, explained Chad Greene, a glaciologist at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). \u201cWhen the base of a glacier becomes inundated with meltwater, water pressure at the base increases and allows the glacier to slide more easily,\u201d he said.<\/p>\nData for the animation are from the ITS_LIVE<\/a>\u00a0project, developed at JPL, which uses an algorithm to detect glacier speed based on surface features visible in optical and radar satellite images. In 2025<\/a>, Greene and JPL colleague Alex Gardner used ITS_LIVE data to analyze the seasonal variability of hundreds of thousands of glaciers across the planet, including Stonebreen.<\/p>\nStonebreen is a surging glacier<\/a>, a type that cycles between stretches of relatively slow movement and sudden bursts of speed when ice can flow several times faster than usual. These surges can last anywhere from months to years. Globally, only about 1 percent<\/a> of glaciers are surge-type, though in Svalbard, they are relatively widespread<\/a>.<\/p>\nBefore 2023, Stonebreen spent several years surging at high speeds after melting along its front likely destabilized<\/a> the glacier, according to Gardner. Even during this surging period, the ice followed a seasonal rhythm\u2014speeding up in summer and slowing through the winter\u2014all while continuing its faster overall flow toward the Barents Sea.<\/p>\nSince 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or \u201cquiescence,\u201d which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. \u00a0<\/p>\nThese seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMaps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
In general, summer speedups are caused by meltwater that percolates from the surface down to the base of the glacier, where the ice sits on rock, explained Chad Greene, a glaciologist at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). \u201cWhen the base of a glacier becomes inundated with meltwater, water pressure at the base increases and allows the glacier to slide more easily,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Data for the animation are from the ITS_LIVE<\/a>\u00a0project, developed at JPL, which uses an algorithm to detect glacier speed based on surface features visible in optical and radar satellite images. In 2025<\/a>, Greene and JPL colleague Alex Gardner used ITS_LIVE data to analyze the seasonal variability of hundreds of thousands of glaciers across the planet, including Stonebreen.<\/p>\nStonebreen is a surging glacier<\/a>, a type that cycles between stretches of relatively slow movement and sudden bursts of speed when ice can flow several times faster than usual. These surges can last anywhere from months to years. Globally, only about 1 percent<\/a> of glaciers are surge-type, though in Svalbard, they are relatively widespread<\/a>.<\/p>\nBefore 2023, Stonebreen spent several years surging at high speeds after melting along its front likely destabilized<\/a> the glacier, according to Gardner. Even during this surging period, the ice followed a seasonal rhythm\u2014speeding up in summer and slowing through the winter\u2014all while continuing its faster overall flow toward the Barents Sea.<\/p>\nSince 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or \u201cquiescence,\u201d which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. \u00a0<\/p>\nThese seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMaps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
Stonebreen is a surging glacier<\/a>, a type that cycles between stretches of relatively slow movement and sudden bursts of speed when ice can flow several times faster than usual. These surges can last anywhere from months to years. Globally, only about 1 percent<\/a> of glaciers are surge-type, though in Svalbard, they are relatively widespread<\/a>.<\/p>\nBefore 2023, Stonebreen spent several years surging at high speeds after melting along its front likely destabilized<\/a> the glacier, according to Gardner. Even during this surging period, the ice followed a seasonal rhythm\u2014speeding up in summer and slowing through the winter\u2014all while continuing its faster overall flow toward the Barents Sea.<\/p>\nSince 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or \u201cquiescence,\u201d which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. \u00a0<\/p>\nThese seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMaps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
Before 2023, Stonebreen spent several years surging at high speeds after melting along its front likely destabilized<\/a> the glacier, according to Gardner. Even during this surging period, the ice followed a seasonal rhythm\u2014speeding up in summer and slowing through the winter\u2014all while continuing its faster overall flow toward the Barents Sea.<\/p>\nSince 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or \u201cquiescence,\u201d which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. \u00a0<\/p>\nThese seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMaps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
Since 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or \u201cquiescence,\u201d which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. \u00a0<\/p>\n
These seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMaps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
Maps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA\/JPL, using data from the\u00a0NASA MEaSUREs<\/a>\u00a0project\u00a0ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Story by Kathryn Hansen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView All \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2014\u20132022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nMP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReferences & Resources<\/h2>\n\nGreene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S.\u00a0(2025)\u00a0Seasonal dynamics of Earth\u2019s glaciers and ice sheets<\/a>.\u00a0Science<\/em>,\u00a0390, 6776.<\/li>\nNASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE<\/a>. Accessed February 12, 2026.<\/li>\nNo\u00ebl, B., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2020)\u00a0Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability<\/a>.\u00a0Nature Communications<\/em>,\u00a011(4597).<\/li>\nStrozzi, T., et al.<\/em>\u00a0(2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen<\/a>, Edge\u00f8ya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere<\/em>, 11(1) 553\u2013566.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\nStay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nSatellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth\u2019s Glaciers<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 4 min read <\/div>\nFrom Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nAlaska\u2019s Brand New Island<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nA landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nArctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n 3 min read <\/div>\nSatellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1<\/span><\/span>\n\n2<\/span><\/a>\n\n3<\/span><\/a>\n\n4<\/span><\/a>\nNext<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
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MP4 (112.73 MB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
From Alaska\u2019s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan\u2019s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons.<\/p>\n
A landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water.<\/p>\n
Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025.<\/p>\n