A glacier bigger than Washington state is melting faster than ever
OregonLive.com • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists warn that a massive glacier in West Antarctica, the Thwaites Glacier, is on the verge of losing its ice shelf, which could accelerate its collapse and raise global sea levels by 2 feet over several decades.
- A 2-foot sea-level rise would cause devastating flooding in major coastal cities like Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, and New Orleans, affecting tens of millions of people worldwide.
- The Thwaites Glacier, larger than Washington state, currently contributes about 4% of global sea-level rise, and its full collapse could trigger the disintegration of the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, potentially raising sea levels by 10 feet or more over centuries.
- The glacier’s eastern ice shelf, which is about 580 square miles and over 1,100 feet thick, has been slowing the glacier’s flow but is rapidly weakening due to warming ocean temperatures eroding it from below.
- Research shows the glacier’s flow rate has tripled from 2020 to 2026, with ice loss expected to increase by 30% by 2067, highlighting the urgent threat posed by climate change to Antarctic ice stability.