Mass loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have tripled over the last two decades and constitutes about one-quarter of the observed global sea-level rise since during this time frame. Much of that contribution is largely due to substantial mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Mass contributions from the large ice sheets according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (4th Assessment Report) identifies the largest uncertainty to future sea-level projections in a warmer climate due to a lack of understanding in the dynamic response of ice sheets to a warmer climate.

Faculty and researchers in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences seek to understand ice sheet dynamics, feedbacks and the mechanisms governing change and variability within coupled ice, ocean, atmosphere systems.