A new study says the "Doomsday Glacier" is at greater risk of melting than science knew

Melting of the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica could raise sea levels – Photograph: BBC

Thwaites, a huge glacier in Antarctica, can raise sea levels by up to one meter, At greater risk of collapse than previously thought.

The Thwaites River is known as the “Doomsday Glacier” because of the danger its melting poses to the world. a The discovery is not just a warning about thisBut over the entire ice sheet, which may lead to a rise in sea levels.

The Thwaites Glacier front is melting – Image: Rob Larter via BBC

🔎 The research was conducted by a group of experts from universities in the United States and Canada with support from the North American Space Agency (NASA). They used satellite images, that is, pictures taken from space, to monitor the glacier and The discovery was that it was moving, propelled by warm ocean water.

➡️ The glacier is stuck on the ocean floor. However, denser tides manage to lift it and with it warmer ocean water They can invade your base from up to 6 kilometers away.

➡️ With hot water touching the base, it makes it more likely to melt. In other words, acting as an additional component to other changes, such as ground temperature for example.

Study co-author Christine Dow, a professor at the University of Waterloo's School of the Environment, explains that the research results not only indicate that the “Doomsday Glacier” is closer to melting, but But tidal movement with a warmer ocean could affect the entire ice sheet and thus sea level rise.

Thwaites is the most unstable place in Antarctica and has the equivalent of 60cm of sea level rise. The concern here is that we are underestimating the speed at which the glacier is changing, which will be devastating for coastal communities around the world.

— Christine Dow, study co-author, in a statement released by the researchers.

Despite the warning, it is not known for certain how quickly this movement could cause the Thwaites River to melt.

The study was published on Monday (20) in the scientific journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” and researchers hope it will help in predictions about the future of the oceans.

Antarctic sea ice reaches its lowest level ever recorded in June

The past year has witnessed global turmoil. Warmer oceans, warmer land, more greenhouse gas emissions, which have consequences for glaciers and sea levels.

➡️ In 2023, the amount of Antarctic sea ice will reach the lowest level in history. (Read more here)
➡️ The result of this was a rise in sea levels. According to the World Meteorological Organization, a rise was recorded twice faster than in the first decade of measurements (1993-2002). (Read more here)

The Thwaites River is known as the “Doomsday Glacier” because if it melted, it could put the entire world in danger.

And you might be wondering What can happen when glaciers melt? Coastal cities can be completely covered.

➡️ Experts predict, for example, that a fifth of Bangladesh, in South Asia, could be submerged. Islands in the Pacific could disappear completely and could even affect cities like Miami and New York with flooding.

➡️And not only abroad, But the effects also have consequences for Brazil. A NASA analysis shows that 293 coastal cities in the world – including Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Belem – will be affected by the melting of different parts of all the world's glaciers.

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