Satellite‑observed recent flow acceleration of glaciers and model‑based environmental associations in Victoria Land, East Antarctica

However, short-term glacier velocity variability in Victoria Land, East Antarctica, remains poorly documented. This study used Sentinel-1 SLC data and environmental records from 2017 to 2025 to quantify glacier-velocity variability in Victoria Land and examine its model-based statistical associations with selected atmospheric and oceanic variables using XGBoost–SHAP.

The results show positive multi-year acceleration trends over the 2017–2025 observational period, superimposed on pronounced seasonal variability. The six selected glacier systems showed positive acceleration rates: Barnett Glacier (2.06 ± 0.92% a⁻¹), Borchgrevink Glacier (2.39 ± 0.66% a⁻¹), David Glacier–Drygalski Ice Tongue system (1.68 ± 0.23% a⁻¹), Larsen Glacier (3.78 ± 0.69% a⁻¹), McMahon Glacier (2.91 ± 0.73% a⁻¹), and Oakley Glacier (2.54 ± 0.33% a⁻¹).