Doomsday Glacier’s Imminent Collapse Could Trigger Devastating Sea Level Rise
The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, ominously dubbed the "Doomsday Glacier," faces potential collapse within the next 200 years, which could lead to a global catastrophe through sharply rising sea levels. New research published this week underscores that tidal action on Thwaites’ underside will "inexorably" hasten its melting this century.
The collapse of Thwaites, along with the West Antarctic ice sheet, could drive a catastrophic rise in sea levels by as much as 3.3 meters, enough to submerge numerous island nations and major cities worldwide. This conclusion arises from recent studies employing ice-breaking ships and underwater robots, which indicate that the glacier’s retreat is set to accelerate significantly in the coming century.
Having already been retreating for over 80 years, Thwaites has shown a marked acceleration in its melting over the past three decades. Scientists now agree that this retreat will gain momentum at some point within the next century. However, emerging processes uncovered by recent studies could cause this acceleration to occur even sooner.
Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist who contributed to the research, expressed concern in a news release, stating, "There is a consensus that Thwaites Glacier retreat will accelerate sometime within the next century. However, there is also concern that additional processes revealed by recent studies… could cause retreat to accelerate sooner."
These findings underscore the urgent need for global awareness and action as the potential collapse of the Thwaites Glacier looms, posing a significant threat to coastal regions around the globe.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/world/thwaites-glacier-scientists-predict-doomsday-melt-that-could-end-the-world-as-we-know-it-11726935350074.html
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