Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Credit: NASA
Recent findings suggest Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier is melting at a faster rate than previously believed, posing significant concerns for sea-level-rise projections.
Utilizing observations from the ICEYE Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite constellation, researchers delved beneath the surface of Thwaites Glacier for the first time. The researchers made a surprising discovery regarding the grounding line, which was anticipated to be an abrupt transition. Instead, they found that Thwaites Glacier possesses a tidally controlled grounding zone, spanning between 1.2 and 3.7 miles (2 to 6 kilometres) wide. During spring tide, warm seawater intrusions extend even further inland, reaching up to 3.7 miles (6 km).
This extensive contact between relatively warm seawater and the glacier will lead to significant melting of grounded ice over kilometres, rendering the glacier more susceptible to ocean warming. These findings, detailed in a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that the glacier is melting at a faster rate than previously predicted by our current models.
Contrary to expectations, the grounding line was found to be a gradual transition zone, with warm seawater intruding inland during spring tide, hastening the glacier's melting.
The interaction between warm seawater and the glacier extends over kilometres, rendering Thwaites Glacier more susceptible to ocean warming and rapid melting.
Observing such dynamic processes from space using radar satellite images provides unprecedented detail and frequency, enabling a better understanding and modelling of glacial dynamics.
Credit: NASA SVS
Revising existing models based on these findings will lead to more accurate predictions of glacial melt and subsequent sea level rise worldwide.
Experts anticipate more dire projections as Thwaites Glacier, often dubbed the "doomsday glacier," remains highly unstable and could significantly contribute to rising sea levels.
The accelerated melting of Thwaites Glacier underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on global sea levels.