A Scientific Expedition to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier Deals With Weather Hiccups
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- An Antarctic expedition team has reached the remote and fractured surface of the Thwaites Glacier, known for its rapid melting.
- A 10-person crew aboard the icebreaker Araon aims to drill deep into the glacier to investigate the causes of its alarming melt rate.
- Helicopter trips from the ship to the drilling site are brief but have been hampered by rapidly changing and poor Antarctic weather conditions.
- Initial attempts to reach the drilling site were aborted due to low visibility, highlighting the challenges posed by the harsh environment.
- A helicopter flight over the glacier revealed a striking landscape of massive, flat-topped icebergs moving swiftly toward the sea, separated by glowing blue ice canyons.
