"A massive Antarctic glacier that could raise global sea levels by up to two feet if it melts is far more exposed to warm ocean water than previously believed."

"A massive Antarctic glacier, which could raise global sea levels by up to two feet if it melts, is far more exposed to warm ocean water than previously believed, according to a study published Monday.

Thwaites Glacier, the world’s widest, bobs up and down on daily tides. As it lifts up, warm seawater is shooting farther under the ice than scientists thought — up to 6 kilometers, or 3.7 miles, according to satellite data. This has the potential to substantially increase the area over which the glacier is melting, scientists found.

The degradation of Thwaites, popularly known as the “doomsday glacier,” means the warm ocean could eat further into the West Antarctic ice sheet and bring with it the potential for massive sea level rise.

“The water is able to penetrate beneath the ice over much longer distances than we thought,” said Eric Rignot, a scientist with the University of California at Irvine and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who led the research. “It’s kind of sending a shock wave down our spine to see that water moving kilometers.”"

Chris Mooney reports for the Washington Post May 20, 2024. [2]

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"In Two New Studies, Scientists See Signs of Fundamental Climate Shifts in Antarctica" (Inside Climate News) [3]