The recent research from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg has shed light on the dire state of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the ‘Doomsday Glacier’. This research provides new insights into the speed of the glacier’s melting process and its potential impact on global sea levels. The findings indicate that the supply of warm water to the glacier is larger than previously assumed, raising fears of a faster melt and acceleration of ice flow.
About the Doomsday Glacier
The Thwaites Glacier, commonly referred to as the Doomsday Glacier, is notably expansive, with a width of 120 km at its broadest point. It’s a fast-moving glacier that over recent years, shows an alarming rate of melting. The enormity of the glacier (1.9 lakh square km) means it contains enough water to lift the world’s sea levels by more than half a meter. Studies have shown that the amount of ice flowing out of it nearly doubled in the last 30 years. As of today, the melting of Thwaites alone contributes to 4% of global sea level rise each year. It is predicted that if the current rate continues, it will collapse into the sea within 200-900 years. The Thwaites Glacier is critical for Antarctica because it prevents the free flow of ice behind it into the ocean.
Previous Studies on Thwaites Glacier
In 2019 a study discovered a fast-growing cavity within the glacier roughly two-thirds the size of Manhattan. The size of such cavities plays a vital role in the rate of melting. Larger cavities allow more heat and water beneath the glacier, accelerating the melting process. In 2020 a study by researchers from New York University detected warm water at a crucial point below the glacier, discovering water at just two degrees above freezing point at Thwaites’s “grounding zone” or “grounding line”. This is significant because the grounding line denotes the retreat rate of a glacier.
Findings from Sweden’s Gothenburg Study
In the recent study conducted by the University of Gothenburg, an unmanned submarine was utilized to observe the conditions under the Thwaites Glacier. Named “Ran,” this submersible measured various aspects, including temperature, strength, salinity, and oxygen content of ocean currents underneath the glacier. The researchers found three warm water inflows, one of which had previously been underestimated. The study also revealed a deep connection to the east that allows for water to flow from Pine Island Bay, which was previously thought to be blocked.
What These Findings Mean?
These findings underscore that warm water is attacking the pinning points of the glacier from every side, destabilizing these key areas where the ice connects to the seabed and finds stability. This could exacerbate the situation for the already retreating Thwaites ice shelf. However, these investigations also provide essential data needed to model the glacier’s dynamics, offering a better prediction tool for future ice melting. The new technological methods used in these studies promise refined models and the reduction of uncertainties around global sea level fluctuations.