Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier' is collapsing faster than expected
Miscellaneous / / April 02, 2023
Its melting could greatly raise the level of the world's oceans.
Scientists from MELT, one of the projects of the UK-US International Glacier Collaboration Thwaites found that although the overall melting is slower than expected, the fracture process in the cracks accelerated. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
In other words, one of the most dangerous glaciers on Earth is losing mass mainly not from the outside, but from the inside. And this happens because of the salt accumulating in the crevices. The unexpected discovery causes alarm among scientists, because it significantly accelerates the process of destruction of the so-called "doomsday glacier".
New data was obtained thanks to the modern Icefin robot, with the help of which the researchers made their way deep into the glacier by 607 meters and studied its bottom, as well as crevices.
With a width of about 120 kilometers, the Thwaites Glacier is the largest on Earth and one of the most fragile in West Antarctica. In addition to its size, which is comparable to the territory of the UK, it is also known for its fast movement. It is assumed that its complete disappearance will increase the level of the world's oceans by about 0.61 meters, and this can subsequently lead to a rise in sea levels of up to three meters.
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