The threat of the 'Doomsday Glacier' grows: the danger of sea level rise is greater than thought

A new study reveals that warm ocean waters are penetrating deep beneath Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, accelerating its retreat. The updated model doubles the forecast for its contribution to sea level rise by 2100, to 3 centimeters. Researchers found a 60% chance of the glacier losing its grip on an underwater ridge by the end of the century.

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications reveals that Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, known as the 'Doomsday Glacier,' is more dangerous than previously estimated. According to the research, warm ocean waters are penetrating kilometers beneath the glacier, lifting it during high tide and accelerating melting from below. The updated model doubles the forecast for the glacier's contribution to sea level rise by the end of the century, to 3 centimeters. Researchers found approximately a 60% chance that the glacier will lose its grip on the underwater Moggino Ridge by the end of the century. However, the study does not predict a complete collapse of the glacier during this period, and the projections are based on the assumption that climate conditions will remain similar to recent decades. The new model more accurately reproduced the actual retreat rate measured since the 1990s.