Ocean water is rushing underneath one of the most dangerous glaciers on Earth, and scientists say this could speed up global sea level rise. The glacier is called Thwaites Glacier, but many people call it the Doomsday Glacier because, if it collapses, it could raise sea levels all over the world and cause serious problems for millions of people.
Recently, researchers discovered that the movement of ocean water beneath the glacier is making it melt much faster than we thought before. So, let’s learn more about what’s going on in Antarctica.
What’s the Thwaites Glacier?
You can find it in West Antarctica and it stands out because it’s the widest glacier in the world. However, the negative thing about it is that it’s losing so much ice every single year, it contributes a 4% to the rising of the sea level in the whole world (just by itself).
The most dangerous thing about the Thwaites Glacier is that it works like a ‘’plug’’ that stops other nearby glaciers. If this plug breaks, the glacier will melt and it will release more ice into Antarctica. In the worst case scenario, this could make the sea level reach about 3 meters. So, you can imagine the chaos it would be for coastal cities like New York, Miami, Venecia, or Buenos Aires.
How ocean water melts the glacier
Thanks to special radar satellites, a group of researchers could observe what’s happening underneath the glacier. This is the point where the grounding line is, which is where the glacier sits in the seafloor and starts to float.
This finding was striking because the ocean water enters and leaves under the glacier following the rhythm of the waves. When the water is under it, it raises the glacier a few centimeters and it starts melting from the lower part. Then, when it leaves, it brings more salty and warmer water which melts even more ice.
This ocean water movement is kind of like a washing machine: it melts the ice, flushes out fresh water, and replaces it with more ocean water that keeps melting the glacier.
Why is there a problem with this?
Until now, scientists estimating how the sea level rises, didn’t have this process in mind. This means that we have probably been underestimating the speed of melting… If the Thwaites Glacier melts faster than expected, the sea level will rise faster too and millions of people living in coastal cities will suffer the horrible consequences. Many houses, roads, harbors, and beaches could disappear underwater.
What’s more, less ice also means changes in the climate because the ice reflects the sunlight and helps cool the planet. So, if this happens, the Earth will absorb more heat and global warming will get even worse.
What about sea ice?
Another research showed that sea ice around Antarctica reached low record levels. This ice doesn’t rise the sea level because it doesn’t float, but it is useful for protecting glaciers. When the sea ice disappears, the ocean water can reach the glaciers stronger: the waves hit harder, warm water enters easily, and melting is faster.
A lesson to learn
This finding is a sign showing climate change is causing very complex and negative consequences that are happening faster than we thought. Of course, scientists will keep studying this glacier to better understand what’s coming. In the meantime, we need to care for our planet because it’s an emergency. We could enjoy a little more of our beautiful planet Earth if we were able to stop global warming by reducing pollution, using clean energies, and protecting ecosystems.