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From the Arctic to the Antarctic, we're leading on research into the effect of climate change on the world's ice sheets - and advising global policymakers on how to protect them.
Our award-winning geography researchers are leading the way in understanding past and current changes to these vitally important stores of ice and what their fate might be.
Through interdisciplinary research, their work is informing discussions around global policy to curb temperature increases and combat the threat of rising sea levels.
Limiting global temperatures
Research led by Professor Chris Stokes found that efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C may not go far enough to save the world's ice sheets.
Professor Stokes presented these findings at the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil.
He was part of a Durham University COP30 delegation from our Geography Department, Business School, and Law School who had official observer status at the conference.
Importance of glaciers
Dr Caroline Clason also played a key role in a major new international report. Co-ordinated by the UK National Commission for UNESCO, Glaciers and Ice Sheets in a Warming World: Impacts and Outcomes looks at the consequences of melting ice on people and the planet.
Dr Clason co-authored a chapter on the importance of glaciers in the Tropical Andes in South America, which are being affected by climate change.
Behaviour of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Professors David Roberts, Colm O'Cofaigh, and Jeremy Lloyd were part of research showing how ocean warming triggered the large-scale retreat of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream.
This offers vital clues to its modern-day vulnerability.
Past warming and future loss
Professor Mike Bentley is part of the international Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2°C (SWAIS2C) project.
The project will analyse rock and mud samples from 500m beneath the Ross Ice Shelf to see how it responded to past warming and what the ice sheet's fate might be.
Research led by Dr Guy Paxman also revealed the remains of landscapes thought to have formed when ancient rivers flowed across East Antarctica.
These flat surfaces could help with predictions of future loss from the ice sheet.
Polar Medal honour
Our strength in polar research was recognised when Professors O'Cofaigh and Roberts, received the prestigious Polar Medal from King Charles III.
The prize is for outstanding achievements in the field of polar research and means Durham now has three Polar Medal recipients, including Professor Bentley.
