Eisfront

Eisfront, literally "ice front" in German, is a term used in glaciology and sea-ice research to denote the boundary where ice meets a different medium, most commonly ice meeting land or ocean. In the context of glaciers and ice sheets, the term refers to the terminus—the edge of a glacier where ice flows to its end. If the terminus is afloat or interacts with seawater, the front is often described as a calving or marine-terminating front, and its retreat or advance is a key signal of glacier dynamics. In sea-ice context, the ice front marks the interface between the sea-ice pack and open water or landfast ice.

Formation and dynamics: Eisfront positions change with seasonal accumulation and ablation, calving events, and oceanographic forces such as currents, tides, and ocean temperature. Warmer water and increased wind-driven melt can drive retreat, while periods of growth or fresh snow can advance the front. Fronts can be irregular and exhibit crevasses, rifts, and ice cliffs.

Observation and measurement: Front location is monitored via satellite imagery, radar, and altimetry; airborne surveys and field measurements supplement remote sensing, particularly for rapidly changing coastal glaciers or fast-moving ice shelves. Front geometry is used to estimate ice velocity, mass balance, and ocean-ice interaction.

Significance: Eisfront dynamics influence sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and ecosystems, and they affect navigation in polar regions. They are a primary observable in climate-change studies and in assessments of glacier stability.