Part of the reason is that a strong capital base and a liquid balance sheet--HSBC has one of the strongest Tier 1 ratios out of the big banks--is something the company has never parted from, Green says.

FORBES: Better Safe Than Sorry

Scientists are keen to study Antarctica's subglacial hydrological systems because liquid water beneath the ice sheet will influence its movement (the ice above Lake Whillans is moving at about 300m per year).

BBC: Drill reaches Antarctica's under-ice Lake Whillans

Also a liquid currency and a strong balance sheet are a competitive advantage.

FORBES: An Interview with Dan Rosensweig of Chegg

Raymond Greaves, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, has calculated that, in March, there were around euro4 billion of net prepayments on the liability side of Alstom's balance sheet for which he cannot clearly identify liquid assets.

ECONOMIST: Alstom

Melting on the ice sheet's surface acts as a feedback mechanism, Dr van den Broeke explained, because the liquid water absorbs more and reflects less of the incoming solar radiation - resulting in a heating of the ice.

BBC: Greenland ice loss 'accelerating'