If The So-Called “Doomsday Glacier” Were To Collapse, It Ccould Have Significant Consequences For The Planet
Concerning the so-called “Doomsday Glacier,” experts have provided another alarming update, indicating troubling developments.
The Thwaites Glacier, an ice mass roughly the size of Great Britain, continues to retreat, according to scientists.
Since 1850, Earth’s average annual temperature has risen by approximately 0.11°F, and the signs of climate change are becoming evident.
One significant issue is that between the 1990s and 2010s, the volume of ice flowing from the glacier into the ocean more than doubled.
The Thwaites Glacier, along with its surrounding region, contributes to 8% of the current annual global sea level rise of 4.6mm.
Recent forecasts suggest that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could largely disappear by the 23rd century.
Experts are calling for urgent action to help mitigate this process.
This week, scientists from the US and UK will convene at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge to discuss their findings.
Researchers plan to use a combination of underwater robotics and other techniques to gather more insights about the future of the “Doomsday Glacier.”
If it were to melt completely, sea levels could rise by 3.3 meters, leading to widespread flooding, habitat destruction, and increased storm activity.
In the UK, cities like Hull, Peterborough, Portsmouth, parts of east London, and the Thames Estuary would be at risk of flooding.
Dr. Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist at BAS and part of the ITGC’s Science Coordination, stated: “Thwaites has been in retreat for over 80 years, with a marked acceleration in the last 30 years.”
“Our research indicates that this retreat will continue to speed up.”
“There is a general agreement that the retreat of Thwaites Glacier will quicken within the next century.”
“However, we are also worried that new processes identified in recent studies, which are not yet fully understood, could cause the retreat to happen even sooner.”
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Dr. Ted Scambos, the US science coordinator for the ITGC and a glaciologist at the University of Colorado, noted: “It’s alarming that current computer models forecast ongoing ice loss that could escalate through the 22nd century, potentially leading to a significant collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the 23rd century.”
“Immediate and sustained climate action can have beneficial effects, though these will take time, especially in managing the influx of warm, deep ocean water that drives the retreat.”