Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is set to accelerate its melting, raising alarms for our planet's future.
This massive glacier, roughly the size of Florida, is crucial for holding back the West Antarctic ice sheet
Recent research indicates tidal action is speeding up the glacier’s retreat, potentially destabilizing the entire ice sheet.
If Thwaites collapses, sea levels could rise by 65 centimeters (26 inches), worsening current ocean rise.
Complete loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet could lead to a staggering 3.3-meter rise in sea levels
Thwaites Glacier Collaboration warns that despite mitigation efforts, the glacier's future remains grim.
Thwaites has been retreating for over 80 years, with the pace quickening in recent decades.
Using a torpedo-shaped robot, scientists found warmer water beneath the glacier
Ice cliffs could rapidly calve off icebergs, causing significant additional sea level rise this century.
Questions remain about whether the glacier’s retreat is already an irreversible process.
While heavy snowfall can replenish ice, the current imbalance favors ice loss over gain.