Rapid dynamical change (Q932)

Subject, term, tag: Rapid dynamical change

Rapid dynamical change (of glaciers or ice sheets)

Language	Label	Description	Also known as
English	Rapid dynamical change	Subject, term, tag: Rapid dynamical change	Rapid dynamical change (of glaciers or ice sheets)

Statements

Instance of

Category

source version

IPCC Glossary v1.5

1 reference

Source

https://apps.ipcc.ch/glossary/

date accessed

27 May 2026

Part of

Working Group I: Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis

0 references

Definition

Changes in glacier or ice sheet mass controlled by changes in flow speed and discharge rather than by accumulation or ablation. This can result in a rate of mass change larger than that due to any imbalance between accumulation and ablation. Rapid dynamical change may be initiated by a climatic trigger, such as incursion of warm ocean water beneath an ice shelf, or thinning of a grounded tide-water terminus, which may lead to reactions within the glacier system that may result in rapid ice loss. (English)