Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review
Sauter T, Brock BW, Collier E, Goger B, Groos AR, Haualand KF, Mott R, Nicholson L, Prinz R, Shaw T, Stiperski I, Georgi A, Haugeneder M, Mandal A, Reynolds D, Saigger M, Sicart JE, Voordendag A. 2026. Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review. Reviews of Geophysics. 64(1), e2024RG000869.
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Author
Sauter, T.;
Brock, B. W.;
Collier, E.;
Goger, B.;
Groos, A. R.;
Haualand, K. F.;
Mott, R.;
Nicholson, L.;
Prinz, R.;
Shaw, ThomasISTA 
;
Stiperski, I.;
Georgi, A.
All
;
Stiperski, I.;
Georgi, A.
All
Department
Abstract
Mountain glaciers are among the natural systems most vulnerable to climate change. However, their interactions with the atmosphere are complex and not fully understood. These interactions can trigger rapid adjustments and climate feedbacks that either amplify or attenuate atmospheric signals, influencing both glacier response and large-scale atmospheric circulation. Observing this functional coupling in nature is challenging because the key processes occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. However, recent advances in observational techniques and modeling have provided new insights into these interactions. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on glacier-atmosphere interactions in high-mountain regions at different scales, and highlight recent advances in observational and numerical modeling. We also highlight important knowledge gaps and outline future research directions to improve the prediction of glacier change in a warming world.
Publishing Year
Date Published
2026-01-05
Journal Title
Reviews of Geophysics
Acknowledgement
This work is the result of collaboration and discussions within HEFEX II, and we are grateful to all colleagues who have contributed to and enriched these discussions in various ways. T. Sauter acknowledges funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) (Grant 543257843). This research was funded in part by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (Grant https://doi.org/10.55776/P36624 and https://doi.org/10.55776/P36306) for which E. Collier and R. Prinz are grateful. A. R. Groos, T. E. Shaw, R. Mott and M. Haugeneder acknowledge Transnational Access from the European Union's H2020 project INTERACT III (Grant 871120) for participation in the HEFEX II campaign and working group. I. Stiperski (Grant Agreement No. 101001691) and A. R. Groos (Grant Agreement No. 948290) acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. R. Mott acknowledges funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (Grant 200021_219918). B. Goger is supported by EXCLAIM, a project funded by ETH Zurich. J.E. Sicart acknowledges LabEx OSUG@2020 (Investissements d'avenir - ANR10 LABX56) for participation in the HEFEX II campaign and working group. T. E. Shaw acknowledges funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant 101026058 and 101034413. K. F. Haualand and T. Sauter are supported by the JOSTICE project funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN Grant 302458).
Volume
64
Issue
1
Article Number
e2024RG000869
ISSN
eISSN
IST-REx-ID
Cite this
Sauter T, Brock BW, Collier E, et al. Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review. Reviews of Geophysics. 2026;64(1). doi:10.1029/2024RG000869
Sauter, T., Brock, B. W., Collier, E., Goger, B., Groos, A. R., Haualand, K. F., … Voordendag, A. (2026). Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review. Reviews of Geophysics. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024RG000869
Sauter, T., B. W. Brock, E. Collier, B. Goger, A. R. Groos, K. F. Haualand, R. Mott, et al. “Glacier-Atmosphere Interactions and Feedbacks in High-Mountain Regions - A Review.” Reviews of Geophysics, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024RG000869.
T. Sauter et al., “Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review,” Reviews of Geophysics, vol. 64, no. 1. 2026.
Sauter T, Brock BW, Collier E, Goger B, Groos AR, Haualand KF, Mott R, Nicholson L, Prinz R, Shaw T, Stiperski I, Georgi A, Haugeneder M, Mandal A, Reynolds D, Saigger M, Sicart JE, Voordendag A. 2026. Glacier-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks in high-mountain regions - A review. Reviews of Geophysics. 64(1), e2024RG000869.
Sauter, T., et al. “Glacier-Atmosphere Interactions and Feedbacks in High-Mountain Regions - A Review.” Reviews of Geophysics, vol. 64, no. 1, e2024RG000869, 2026, doi:10.1029/2024RG000869.
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