A team of scientists has been closely monitoring the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica since 2018. Their six-year study has revealed a grim outlook for the glacier’s future. According to their findings, the Glacier will melt at an accelerated rate and could completely collapse within 200 years.
If this happens, it could raise global sea levels by over two feet. It already contributes about four percent to the total current rise in sea levels.
“Thwaites has been retreating for more than 80 years, accelerating considerably over the past 30 years, and our findings indicate it is set to retreat further and faster,” UK science lead from the British Antarctic Survey, said in a statement.
The Thwaites Glacier is more vulnerable to melting than previously thought. This is due to saltwater intrusion beneath its underbelly. High tides lift the glacier, allowing warm ocean water to reach and melt it from below.
While the latest findings are concerning, they are slightly better than expected. The glacier is not expected to completely disappear until the 23rd century. However, this does not mean that we can afford to delay action. If we do not mitigate climate change, the melting of the Thwaites Glacier could trigger a broader collapse of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to catastrophic sea-level rise.
The glacier’s collapse is not imminent, it is a serious threat. If we do not take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Reference- National Geographic, Nature, Science, Popular Science