1. How is rapid melting of Thwaites Glacier impacting global sea levels?
Thwaites Glacier Underbelly Melting at an Alarming Rate
Thwaites Glacier is located in Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea and is dubbed the “Doomsday Glacier” due to the amount of ice that it makes up. The rapid melting of this glacier is leading to massive ice loss as the ice erodes vulnerabilities located in the underbelly of the glacier.
Rapid Melting of the Thwaites Glacier
The rapid melting of the glacier has been alarming scientists for years. The rate of thawing has been observed to have increased dramatically in the last 5 years, and is said to possibly reach an “unstoppable level” before the year 2050. This ice loss is the result of melting from around it’s so-called “grounding zone” which is the area where the ice meets the ocean floor. It is estimated that if the melting continues at this rate, the glacier will lose a significant percentage of its ice in the Antarctic ice sheet, potentially raising global sea levels.
Vulnerable Cracks in the Underbelly of the Glacier
The vulnerable cracks in the underbelly of the glacier are making it even more susceptible to melting. The water that flows underneath the ice is absorbing more heat than usual, causing fractures and weakening the glacier’s structure. This has increased the melting of the glacier to a greater degree that cannot be accounted for by natural warming or climate effects.
The Far Reaching Consequences
The consequences of the rapid melting have the potential to be catastrophic. It is projected that the melting of the Thwaites Glacier could add up to 10 cm to global sea levels, in addition to the affecting the world’s most fragile ecosystems. To make matters worse, ocean acidification is causing further damage to the sea level rise, which could have direct implications on human life, as ocean levels continue to rise while ecosystems break down.
What Can be Done?
It is essential that we take action to mitigate the risks caused by the rapid melting of the Thwaites Glacier. Some of the steps we could take include:
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Encouraging the development of alternative energy sources
- Increasing funding for research and development of technologies that can be used to slow the melting of glaciers
- Creating incentives for conservation of our environment
The melting of the Thwaites Glacier is a global issue that requires global solutions. It is imperative that we come together and take measures to protect this vulnerable glacier and ultimately, our planet.
Thwaites Glacier, a colossal ice shelf situated in Antarctica, is dramatically melting due to rapid climate change, resulting in the erosion of vulnerable crevices in its underbelly.
Adorning the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Thwaites Glacier is one of the largest and fastest melting glaciers in the area. In a report from the World Meteorological Organization on sea level rise, Thwaites Glacier was among the “most vulnerable” glaciers and accounted for approximately 10% of global sea level rise that occurred between 2011 and 2019.
Recently, a research team from the United States and Britain drilled and collected data from the underbelly of the glacier for the first time – an impressive feat of engineering because of the dense ice sheets and inclement weather in the Antarctic region. The results revealed the worrying truth: Thwaites Glacier’s vast underbelly is rapidly melting, including many cracks and crevices that are particularly vulnerable to the warm waters sweeping against it.
This data corroborates previous glaciological evidence and satellite imagery that shows Thwaites Glacier has been “unstable in recent decades” and has been retreating by up to four kilometers per year since 1992. Those studying the glacier explain that in years to come, this destabilization is likely to hasten and can even potentially cause irreversible ice shelf collapse if left unchecked.
Therefore, it is vital for governments to concentrate on reducing carbon emissions and to focus on further research on glaciers like Thwaites in the Antarctic. The rapid melting of the glacier could have drastic consequences for global sea levels and the environment at large. We must act now to mitigate the damage and forestall the disastrous effects of climate change.
