Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica: "We should all be very concerned"

Right now, a Florida-sized glacier is melting, and it could cause a huge rise in the sea level worldwide.

"Icefin", the robot that studies the artic ice

Warm water is reportedly pouring into the gigantic Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, sometimes known as the "Doomsday Glacier," endangering both its survival and a significant rise in sea level.

Thwaites, which is about the size of Florida, has the ability to contribute more than half a meter (1.6 feet) to the rise in sea level globally. It also has the potential to destabilize nearby glaciers, which might result in an additional three meters (9.8 feet) of rise.

A group of 13 scientists from the US and UK spent around six weeks on the glacier in late 2019 and early 2020 as a part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, the largest field campaign yet attempted in Antarctica.

Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica

They kept an eye on the glacier's grounding line, which is where ice initially slides off the glacier and enters the ocean, using sensors, mooring data, and the underwater robot vehicle "Icefin".

Researchers, led by Britney Schmidt of Cornell University, found that warmer water was entering crevasses and other openings known as terraces, causing sideways melt of at least 30 meters (98 feet) per year. This discovery was made in one of two papers that were published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

According to Schmidt, "warm water is entering into the glacier's weakest areas and making it worse." "That is the kind of thing that should alarm us all greatly."

The results of the other study, on which Schmidt also collaborated, revealed less melting than the most aggressive thinning models had previously indicated, at a rate of roughly 5 meters (16 feet) per year along the glacier's grounding line.

But she claimed that the melting remained a serious problem.

Even if we see less melting, Schmidt insisted, "it doesn't change the fact that it's receding."

Breaking apart:

Prior to this, scientists had relied on satellite photographs to depict the behavior of the ice, making it challenging to obtain fine details.

The articles provide a view of "the action beginning" at a major glacier's grounding line for the first time, according to Schmidt.

According to Paul Cutler, the director of the National Science Foundation's Thwaites program, fracturing "possibly accelerates the overall collapse of that ice shelf" as warm water enters the crevasses. Its eventual mode of failure could be disintegration.

Regrettably, this will still be a significant problem in a century, he warned. Yet now that we know more, we have more time to act to slow the rate of sea level rise.

Doomsday Glacier?

A hundred years seems like a lot, but it's really not if we are considering a doomsday event.

Glaciers have been melting at an alarming rate over the past few decades, and this cannot be ignored, as it has the potential to be a threat to humanity.

The melting of glaciers is not a new phenomenon, but the rate at which it is happening now is unprecedented.

Climate change is causing temperatures to rise, and this is causing glaciers to melt at an accelerating rate. The effects of this are being felt all around the world. In some regions, glaciers are disappearing entirely, and this is causing sea levels to rise. This rise in sea levels is a major threat to coastal cities and communities.

The melting of glaciers has already had a significant impact on the world.

In many areas, the loss of glacial ice has led to drought and water shortages. This has impacted agriculture, as well as the availability of drinking water. The loss of glacial ice has also led to the collapse of some ecosystems.

Himalayan Glaciers Melting

For example, in the Arctic, the melting of sea ice has had a major impact on the region's wildlife. Polar bears are struggling to find enough food as the ice they hunt on disappears.

The threat of rising sea levels cannot be overstated. The potential impact of this event on humanity is immense. Coastal cities around the world will be at risk of flooding, and this could displace millions of people. The loss of land and infrastructure could have a significant impact on the global economy. The impacts of this event could be felt for generations to come.

In spite of the risks, there are still those who deny that climate change is happening, or that it is caused by human activity. This is a dangerous position to take. The scientific consensus on this issue is clear. We are causing the Earth's climate to change, and we need to take action to address this. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to mitigate the impacts of this event.

In conclusion, the melting of glaciers is a serious issue that cannot be ignored. The rising sea levels that result from this event have the potential to be a threat to humanity.

And now, the alarm should be going off as strong as ever, as the "doomsday glacier" gives us more proof of troublesome years to come.

While the impacts of this event may not be felt for another hundred years, we must take action now to mitigate the risks. This requires a concerted effort from individuals, governments, and corporations around the world. We must all do our part to address climate change and protect our planet for future generations.