‘Doomsday’ Glacier Is Set to Melt Faster

Recent research by British and American scientists indicates that tidal action is causing warmer sea water to infiltrate the underside of Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, leading to accelerated melting. This glacier, which is comparable in size to Florida, has been retreating for over 80 years, with a notable increase in speed over the last three decades. The glacier acts as a crucial anchor for the West Antarctic ice sheet, and its destabilization could result in significant sea level rise. The study highlights that the glacier's melting could lead to a rise in sea levels by 65 centimeters (26 inches) if Thwaites collapses. In a worst-case scenario, the complete loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet could raise sea levels by 3.3 meters. While some models suggest that reducing greenhouse gas emissions may help mitigate the glacier's retreat, the overall outlook remains dire, as the glacier is losing ice at a rate that exceeds replenishment from snowfall. Scientists utilized a torpedo-shaped robot to investigate the glacier's underside, discovering that a thin layer of cold water insulates it. However, tidal action is disrupting this layer, allowing warmer water to reach the grounding zone, where the glacier meets the seabed. This process is expected to significantly accelerate the retreat of the glacier, similar to phenomena observed in Greenland. A critical question remains regarding the potential irreversibility of Thwaites Glacier's loss. Increased atmospheric moisture due to global warming may initially lead to more snowfall in Antarctica, but this could eventually transition to rain and surface melting, exacerbating the glacier's decline from both above and below.