Scientists Warn: Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Melting Faster and Faster

At Thwaites Glacier, which is located in West Antarctica, glaciologists have discovered enough signs of warm ocean water penetrating many kilometers beneath the ice that is grounded.  Recent findings showcase the current climate models appear to be underestimating the influence of interactions between the ocean and ice on forecasts of future sea level rise.

Also, according to research that was recently published and subjected to peer review, the Thwaites Glacier, which has been given the nickname “Doomsday” due to the severe consequences that would result from its melting regarding the rise in global sea level, is now disintegrating “much faster” than was anticipated.

The worry is that we are underestimating the speed that the glacier is changing, which would be devastating for coastal communities around the world, explained study co-author Christine Dow from the University of California, Irvine.

There have already been significant repercussions for coastal and island populations as a result of the record-breaking rise in sea levels. Approximately 1,200 people who had been living on the island of Gardi Sugdub started moving to the mainland of Panama in February, as the Caribbean Sea was beginning to take away their home. This information was released by BBC. If it were to totally melt, the glacier, which is roughly the dimensions of the United Kingdom, would be responsible for causing the global sea level to increase by more than two feet. We simply cannot imagine such a disaster.

Low-lying communities and entire countries could disappear forever. We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale. And we would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources, stated United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

On the basis of the data collected by Finland’s ICEYE commercial satellite program between March and June of 2023, the glaciologists formed their conclusions. The smoothness of the data output is achieved by having a spacecraft make several passes over a limited, specified area. In this particular research, it demonstrated the movement of Thwaites Glacier as well as its rise and fall motions.