New model shows warm seawater could destabilize Thwaites Glacier faster
A recent study published in Nature Communications finds that warm, pressurised ocean water reaching beneath Thwaites Glacier may cause it to lose its grounding contact by the end of the decade, potentially raising sea level by up to three centimetres by the end of the century.
A new simulation published in Nature Communications indicates that warm, pressurised seawater now reaching the base of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica could cause the ice sheet to lose its stabilising contact with the underlying rock by the late 2020s. This grounding-line retreat would make the glacier more prone to rapid melt, adding as much as three centimetres to global sea level by the end of the century, even if atmospheric temperatures remain unchanged.
The study incorporates three decades of satellite-derived glacier retreat data and was conducted by scientists from the University of California, Irvine, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Dartmouth College. Finnish Meteorological Institute professor Aku Riihelä noted that the model uniquely allows ocean water to infiltrate deeper than previous versions. Iceye’s radar satellites monitored the glacier’s movement, providing daily images to capture subtle changes in the grounding zone. The findings raise concerns for coastal regions worldwide, including the Finnish shoreline, which could feel the effects of even modest sea-level rise.
Why it matters
Thwaites Glacier’s accelerated melt could raise sea levels, affecting coastal communities globally.
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