By The Smartencyclopedia Staff

A new study reveals that the rapid melting of Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” started 80 years ago, much earlier than previously estimated. The melting, which contributes to a 4% rise in global sea levels, began in the 1940s following an extreme El Niño event, according to the study published in PNAS. The Thwaites Glacier has been a significant concern due to its potential to raise sea levels by two feet (60 centimeters). The study’s findings shed light on the long-term impacts of climate change on glaciers and emphasize the interconnectedness of glacial retreat with broader climate patterns.

The Thwaites Glacier, located in West Antarctica and comparable in size to Florida, has experienced accelerated melting since the 1980s. Satellite coverage of Antarctica dates back to 1978, leaving uncertainty about when the melting began. The study, utilizing sediment cores collected from seven locations around Thwaites and the Pine Island Glacier, provided insights into the glaciers’ retreat over the past 80 years. Researchers found that the retreat was initiated by an unusually warm El Niño climate pattern between 1939 and 1942.

Lead author Rachel Clark, a geologist at the University of Houston, highlighted the significance of the study, stating, “What is especially important about our study is that this change is not random nor specific to one glacier. It is part of a larger context of a changing climate.” The Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, with vast surface areas, are crucial contributors to rising sea levels.

The sediment cores, serving as accurate climate proxies, indicated that the retreat of the glaciers continued even after the El Niño trigger. The study emphasizes the ongoing nature of glacier retreat once initiated, with co-author Julia Wellner stating, “Once the system is kicked out of balance, the retreat is ongoing.” The Thwaites Glacier’s potential complete melt could result in a sea-level rise of more than two feet, and broader destabilization could elevate global sea levels by approximately 11 feet.

Wellner highlighted the significance of the Thwaites Glacier, describing it not only as a contributor to sea-level rise but also as a barrier holding back a broader ice area. The potential destabilization of Thwaites could have cascading effects on West Antarctica’s ice, emphasizing the urgency of understanding and addressing long-term climate impacts.