Senegal-sized Antarctic glacier melting faster than thought: Why it matters
Summary
New research shows that the Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica is melting faster than scientists thought. This glacier's melting could raise global sea levels by about 1.2 inches (30 mm) in the next 100 years, even if global warming does not speed up.Key Facts
- Thwaites glacier is the world’s largest glacier, roughly the size of Senegal or larger than Florida.
- It is located on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica.
- The glacier has lost over 1,000 billion tonnes of ice since 2000 and loses about 50 billion tonnes yearly.
- Warm ocean water is melting the glacier from underneath, causing it to thin faster.
- The glacier currently contributes about 4% of global sea level rise.
- Scientists found a large underwater cavity beneath the glacier, which may speed melting.
- If Thwaites and nearby glaciers melt, it could cause major flooding in coastal cities worldwide.
- The findings were published by researchers from the University of California and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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