Antarctica , Sept 20 (Alliance News):Scientists from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration have discovered that the massive Thwaites Glacier, often called the “Doomsday Glacier,” is melting faster than expected and may be on an irreversible path to collapse.
The collapse could occur within the next 200 years, causing catastrophic global sea level rise.
Thwaites alone holds enough ice to raise sea levels by over 2 feet, but its collapse could unlock up to 10 feet of sea rise as it currently holds back the larger Antarctic Ice Sheet.
This could spell disaster for coastal cities around the world, from Miami to London, and low-lying regions like Bangladesh and Pacific Islands.
Over the past six years, the team of scientists used innovative technologies like the Icefin robot to study the glacier’s vulnerabilities.
They discovered that warm ocean water is melting the glacier through cracks and formations in unexpected ways, accelerating its retreat.
Despite this grim outlook, some studies show that the feared rapid cliff-collapse process may be less likely than originally thought.
However, scientists warn that even if fossil fuel consumption ceases, it may be too late to prevent Thwaites’ eventual collapse. More research is needed to understand whether its retreat can be slowed or reversed.
