The Hidden Chorus of a Melting Giant

In the fall of 2024, we recorded underwater sounds in a glacier lagoon in Iceland. This place may seem calm and silent, but beneath the surface lies a world alive with sound.

Sound travels much better in water than in air. Because water is denser, vibrations move faster and farther. That’s why underwater recordings often feel rich and crisp, even when nothing appears to be happening above.

At times, you might think you’re hearing birds or sea creatures. But these sounds don’t come from any animals. They all are the voice of the glacier itself. As the glacier melts, the ice cracks and groans under its own heavy weight and small rocks that were once frozen inside are freed and tumble down the ice. Underwater, tiny air bubbles that were trapped in the ice pop and fizz as they escape.

Together, these sounds create the hidden chorus of a melting giant!

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