The Independent: ‘Teetering at the edge’: Scientists warn of rapid melting of Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday glacier’
Thwaites glacier is losing ice at an accelerating rate, threatening catastrophic sea-level rise
Many climate scientists regard Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica as one of the most vulnerable and most significant glaciers in the world in terms of future global sea-level rise.
Its collapse would raise global sea levels by more than half a metre on its own, and subsequently release other major bodies of ice in West Antarctica, which together could raise sea levels by 2-3 metres. The ramifications for many countries, including most of the world’s coastal cities, would be catastrophic.
For this reason, Thwaites is known as Antarctica’s “Doomsday glacier”.
Earlier this year a team of scientists observed, for the first time, the presence of warm water at a vital point underneath the glacier, which helps explain the reason behind the extent of its decrease.
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Update: Collapse of Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Increase Sea Levels by 6 Feet (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: This is why this glacier is important .... Why scientists are so worried about this glacier (VOX).
