The experiments demonstrated that ice deformation rates are linearly proportional to stress, challenging the traditional view that ice softens under increased stress.

These findings underscore the necessity of accurately modeling temperate glacier ice, particularly as it plays a crucial role in sea-level changes.

The research advocates for a revision to Glen's flow law, a key equation in glacier flow modeling, specifically for temperate ice.

Ultimately, the results provide a more reliable foundation for modeling glacier behavior in the context of current climatic conditions, thereby enhancing predictions of glacier flow and sea-level rise.

Recent research has revealed that temperate glacier ice flows more steadily than previously thought, which could significantly alter projections for sea-level rise.

The study indicates that the flow velocity of temperate ice responds less dramatically to stress from ice sheet shrinkage due to climate change, potentially resulting in reduced glacier flow into the oceans.

The findings were co-authored by Neal Iverson, a professor emeritus at Iowa State University, and published in the journal Science on January 9, 2025.

Collin Schohn, the lead author of the paper, conducted six experiments over six weeks to measure the liquid water content of the ice, a parameter that has been infrequently assessed in recent decades.

Iverson's lab, which has been operational since 2009, utilizes a specialized ring-shear device to simulate glacial forces, supported by a $530,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The research suggests that the stress exponent 'n' in Glen's flow law should be revised to 1.0, rather than the traditionally accepted values of 3 or 4, based on the experimental data.

This study differentiates between temperate ice, which is soft and watery, and cold ice, which is hard and has been the focus of most previous glacier studies.