Glaciers along the coast of Antarctica are moving faster during the summer, according to new research by scientists from University of Leeds. The study authors say a combination of melting snow and warmer ocean water is to blame.

Under normal circumstances, glaciers move at a speed of about one kilometer per year. However, the situation is changing and compared to the winter months, the movement of glaciers can accelerate by up to 22% during the summer. Research is providing better insight into how it can global warming affect the situation in Antarctica and contribute to global ocean level rise.

For a long time, scientists did not have reliable ways to study the Antarctic Peninsula because their access to the glaciers was largely limited. However, as part of the new research, they used satellites, which were able to provide them with the necessary insight into the situation. They enabled them to monitor the speed at which the glaciers move and at the same time release water into the surrounding ocean.