The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ of Antarctica Has the Risk of Increasing Sea Levels by Many Feet

Scientists predicted that the dubbed doomsday glacier in Antarctica, which poses a serious threat to the world's sea level and is at high risk of collapsing, could retreat quickly in the next years, raising fears about the astronomical sea level rise that would result from its likely extinction.

Doomsday glacier might increase sea levels

(Photo : Alto Crew/Unsplash)

As the earth heats, the Thwaites Glacier, which can raise sea levels by several feet, is disintegrating along its submerged base, as per CNN.

Scientists tracked the glacier's historical retreat in a research study that was published on Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience to predict what the glacier would probably do in the future.

They discovered that the glacier's base had been detached from the seafloor at some time in the last two centuries and was retreating at a rate of 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers) per year.

Once the Thwaites moves past a seabed ridge that is assisting in keeping it in check, it will be able to make a quick return soon.

One of the widest glaciers on Earth, the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is bigger than the state of Florida.

However, it just makes up a portion of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which, according to NASA, is large enough to increase the sea level by up to 16 feet.

This area has been extensively watched as the climate crisis has intensified due to its rapidly melting and potential for extensive coastal devastation.

The Thwaites Ice Shelf, which aids in stabilizing the glacier and prevents the ice from flowing freely into the ocean, might collapse within five years, according to research published in the year 2021.

Peter Davis, an oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey, told that from the satellite data, they are seeing these enormous fissures spreading across the ice shelf surface, basically weakening the fabric of the ice.

It's slowly encroaching on the ice shelf and will eventually break apart into several pieces.

Also Read: New Research: Himalayan Glaciers Are Melting Rapidly, Threatening the Water Supply of Millions in Asia

Cause and effect of glaciers if it melts

Over the Earth as well as our oceans, ice serves as a shield.

The globe stays colder as a result of these brilliant white areas, which reflect extra heat into space, as per World Wildlife.

A scientific record of how the climate has changed through time may be found in glaciers all around the world, which contain ice that is several hundred to several thousand years old.

Numerous glaciers across the world have already been quickly melting since the turn of the 20th century.

This phenomenon is primarily the result of human activity.

In particular, since the industrial revolution, emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide have increased temperatures, even more in the poles, and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, breaking off into the sea, and retreating on land.

Ocean currents will continue to alter weather patterns all over the world as sea ice and glaciers melt and the oceans warm.

Warmer waters will alter where and when fish reproduce, which will have an impact on industries that depend on healthy fisheries.

The cost of recovering from disasters will continue to run into the billions of dollars for coastal cities as storms and flooding become more regular and destructive.

Others besides people are impacted. Polar bears spend more time on land in the Arctic due to sea ice melting, which displaces other animals like walruses and increases human-bear conflict.