Science Friday What The Sounds Of Melting Glaciers Can Tell Us
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Dec 11, 2025 
Dr. Erin Pettit, a glaciologist from Oregon State University, discusses the eerie sounds of melting glaciers. She reveals how bursting air bubbles create sizzling noises, indicating the glacier's melt rate. Each sound carries crucial data about iceberg calving and ocean dynamics. Using advanced robotic tools, Erin shares her thrilling experiences studying these icy giants. Listen in as she reflects on the emotional weight of observing irreversible ice loss, accompanied by striking audio from glaciers like Thwaites.
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Bubble Sounds Reveal Melt Rate
- Glacier ice traps pressurized air bubbles that pop as the ice melts and produce distinctive sounds underwater.
- Louder, sizzling or babbling sounds indicate more rapid melting because more bubbles release per time.
Sound Lets You Study Glaciers Safely
- Sound propagates well in water, letting researchers record glacier activity from a safer distance.
- Listening at the terminus captures melting and calving details that are dangerous or impossible to observe up close.
Loudness Correlates With Melt But Has Limits
- Faster melting generally produces louder underwater sounds because more bubbles are released per unit time.
- Variability in iceberg shapes and other factors complicates translating sound directly into melt volume.