Infrared-laser-induced Marangoni flow programs ice-melting patterns

Climate-driven ice loss from glaciers and icebergs exacerbates sea-level rise and freshwater scarcity, yet the role of radiative forcing in regulating melt dynamics remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate ice-melting patterns under mid-infrared (10.6 μm) CO2 laser irradiation by combining experimental approaches, numerical simulations, and scaling analysis. We observe the spatiotemporal evolution of melt ponds transitioning from concave to anomalous convex morphologies, driven by thermal Marangoni flows at the ice–water interface. Melt pond patterns can be precisely controlled through premelting liquid layers (which favor convex patterns), laser power, or laser operation modes (e.g., scanning mode for groove-shaped channels). At higher laser intensities, vaporization and bubble dynamics significantly influence ablation processes, replicating feedback mechanisms observed in natural ice–ocean systems such as marine ice cliff instability. Our findings not only demonstrate the potential of radiative interventions for managing meltwater dynamics but also establish a crucial link between microscale phase-change physics and macroscale ice-sheet responses, offering actionable insights for mitigating freshwater loss under global climate change.