A study released this week added new fears to the fate of an important glacier in Antarctica and its impact on sea-level rise.
The Thwaites Glacier on the vast West Antarctica Ice Sheet is commonly called the “Doomsday Glacier” because of its potential to significantly raise sea levels by as much as 10 feet globally, inundating low-lying coastal communities and displacing millions.
The instability of Thwaites has been known and studied for a long time as a key indicator of climate change, but a new study released this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences points to new evidence that warm seawater is pumping under the base of Thwaites and eroding it much more quickly than previously believed.
Melt watch: The Doomsday Glacier is melting − fast. How sea level rise could drench the world map.
Observation: Thwaites ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is melting faster than expected: Concerns over sea level rise grow
Daily powerful tidal forces lift the glacier up and down, allowing so-called seawater intrusions to seep farther beneath the ice sheet and weaken the sea floor ridges keeping it in place. At this rate of deterioration, the report predicts, it may take only 10 to 20 years before Thwaites retreats to a deeper part of its basin, which will speed up the seawater contact and hasten its demise.
What happens if the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ melts?
The ramifications of losing Thwaites are bad enough – researchers say it could cause ocean levels to rise as much as 2 feet – but the glacier’s role as a natural dam to other ice in West Antarctica is an added concern. If the ice held in by Thwaites slides into the ocean, researchers estimate sea levels could rise by 10 feet.
The study also suggests the Antarctic Ice Sheet is more susceptible to the impact of warming oceans than previously believed and could lead to nearer-term sea-level rise projections.
“Thwaites is the most unstable place in the Antarctic and contains the equivalent of 60 centimeters (2 feet) of sea-level rise,” said study co-author Christine Dow of the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “The worry is that we are underestimating the speed that the glacier is changing, which would be devastating for coastal communities around the world.”
Contributing: Doyle Rice, Janet Loehrke and George Petras
SOURCES University of Waterloo; antarcticglaciers.org
Daisy Hips is a science communicator who brings the wonders of the natural world to readers. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to environmental conservation. Daisy is also an advocate for science education and enjoys stargazing in her spare time.
