As snow and ice melt across the top of glaciers and ice sheets during ever warmer summers, the water flows and accumulates in depressed areas of ice, forming beautiful, shimmering pools of blue, and turquoise and teals.

Despite the stunning landscapes that result, sunlight does not reflect off water the same way it does a smooth, white, icy surface. Instead, the darker pools of water warm up faster, thus accelerating the melting and breaking of ice even further.

As of 2024, NASA estimates that melting ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica now account for 1/3 of global average sea level rise.