A new scientific study has found that the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, popularly known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” is melting faster than previously expected. It is the widest glacier on Earth and was given the name because its collapse is feared to trigger catastrophe. At present, about 4 percent of global sea level rise is attributed to the melting of such ice masses.
A new model developed by scientists from the University of California, Irvine and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has shed light on the processes taking place inside the glacier. Warm seawater is continuously seeping beneath the “grounding line,” the region where the ice mass begins to float on the sea. This flow of warm water is rapidly melting the underside of the ice, while the sloping land beneath the glacier is allowing water to flow even further inland.
Researchers estimate that the melting of Thwaites will raise sea levels by about 1.2 inches by the end of this century, in 2100. This is double the earlier estimates. Currently, two tall rock ridges on the seabed are partially preventing the ice from flowing quickly into the sea.
Despite this, the researchers warned that there is a 60 percent chance of the glacier breaking apart by the end of this century.
If the Thwaites Glacier melts completely, the consequences would be devastating worldwide, with millions of people living in coastal areas and river deltas facing permanent flooding. Major cities that could face severe inundation include Kolkata in India, along with Shanghai, Dhaka, Bangkok, Manila, London, New York, Miami, New Orleans and Tokyo.