Antarctica’s “Doomsday Glacier” could raise sea levels twice as much as predicted
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier may be melting twice as much as previously predicted, even without additional global warming. Scientists discovered that warm ocean water is penetrating miles beneath the ice, weakening its foundations and accelerating its retreat. A new model predicts that the glacier could add up to 30 millimeters to global sea levels by 2100, with...
Key Takeaways
- Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier may be melting twice as much as previously predicted, even without additional global warming.
- Scientists discovered that warm ocean water is penetrating miles beneath the ice, weakening its foundations and accelerating its retreat.
- A new model predicts that the glacier could add up to 30 millimeters to global sea levels by 2100, with a 60% chance of losing a crucial stabilizing ridge.
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier may be melting twice as much as previously predicted, even without additional global warming. Scientists discovered that warm ocean water is penetrating miles beneath the ice, weakening its foundations and accelerating its retreat. A new model predicts that the glacier could add up to 30 millimeters to global sea levels by 2100, with a 60% chance of losing a crucial stabilizing ridge.
Original Publisher Attribution
This summary was curated from ScienceDaily.