Thwaites Glacier
Why in News?
- Scientists established a camp on Thwaites to drill into the ice for ocean measurements, succeeding briefly despite weather delays, crevasses, and shifting ice; instruments revealed turbulent, warm waters beneath driving melt.
Location and Size
- Located in West Antarctica on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land, east of Mount Murphy; spans an area comparable to Florida.
- Flows as an outlet glacier from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet into the Amundsen Sea, channeling vast inland ice.
Significance to Sea Levels
- Recently contributes about 4% of annual global sea-level rise (around 3.4 mm/year total); full collapse could raise levels by 65 cm short-term, or up to 3.3 meters if it triggers West Antarctic Ice Sheet loss over centuries.
- Vulnerable due to proximity to warm ocean currents eroding its underside, especially after grounding line retreat forming vast underwater cavities.
Research History
- Nicknamed "Doomsday" for instability risks; monitored for decades with faster flow and retreat noted since 2020s.
- 2020-2022 efforts included prior drilling; 2026 marked first measurements under main trunk, despite partial failures from ice movement.
- Volcanoes beneath West Antarctica may influence dynamics, concentrated in Marie Byrd Land.
Key Risks
- Potential destabilization of neighboring glaciers and full West Antarctic Ice Sheet, with irreversible sea-level impacts even from past warming.​
- Turbulent basal waters confirm ongoing erosion, demanding more missions for precise forecasts.
