Global Outlook for Ice and Snow - Chapter 6

This chapter examines the condition, behaviour and recent changes of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets within the climate system. It describes the structure and dynamics of ice sheets, explains the processes controlling snow accumulation, melting, glacier flow and ice discharge, and outlines methods used to measure changes in ice mass through satellite observations, field measurements and mass balance analyses. The chapter reviews evidence of accelerating ice loss, thinning ice shelves, faster glacier movement and increasing contributions to sea-level rise. It also discusses the uncertainties surrounding future projections, highlighting the limitations of current ice sheet and ocean models in predicting the magnitude and pace of future changes under a warming climate.