New research utilizing radar data from space has revealed alarming insights about the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, commonly known as the “Doomsday Glacier.” This study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights a significant increase in the vulnerability of the glacier, as ocean water is found to be pushing miles beneath it. This process is causing vigorous Doomsday Glacier melting, which might mean that the current projections for global sea level rise are considerably underestimated.
The Thwaites Glacier, approximately the size of Florida, is notorious for its potential to drastically affect global sea levels. Already contributing 4% to global sea level rise, Thwaites holds enough ice to elevate sea levels by over two feet. Moreover, its complete collapse could result in as much as 10 feet of sea level rise, posing a catastrophic threat to coastal communities worldwide. The glacier’s precarious position is exacerbated by its geographical layout; the land beneath slopes downward, facilitating the encroachment of warm ocean waters that accelerate the Doomsday Glacier melting.
This recent study was led by a team of glaciologists from the University of California, Irvine, who employed high-resolution satellite radar data to monitor the glacier’s “grounding line”—the critical juncture where the glacier transitions from ground-based ice to a floating ice shelf. Grounding lines are essential for the stability of ice sheets and are particularly vulnerable points for Thwaites. The data revealed that seawater travels beneath the glacier, affecting it significantly, and then retreats with the tidal cycle. This dynamic has profound implications for the glacier’s stability and longevity.
According to Eric Rignot, a professor of Earth system science at UC Irvine and co-author of the study, this seawater intrusion is vigorous enough to lift the surface of the glacier by centimeters, suggesting a more substantial impact than previously thought. The term “grounding zone” might be more appropriate, given the movement observed, which can span nearly 4 miles over a 12-hour period. This rapid movement of seawater beneath the glacier accelerates Doomsday Glacier melting by replacing the melted freshwater ice with relatively warmer seawater, thus enhancing the melt rate further.
The implications of these findings are significant, as they introduce a process not currently factored into existing ice sheet models. This could mean that the pace of ice loss and the consequent sea level rise could be faster than current forecasts predict. While the specific extent of this phenomenon’s impact on Thwaites is still being studied, it is clear that it is a critical factor that must be integrated into future models for more accurate predictions.
Overall, the Doomsday Glacier melting is an urgent indicator of the broader implications of climate change on Antarctica. The findings underscore the importance of continuing to enhance satellite monitoring and other technological approaches to better understand and predict changes in Earth’s ice systems and their global impacts.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/20/climate/doomsday-glacier-melt-antarctica-climate-intl/index.html