Melting of Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier 'will increase inexorably' this century

Scientists warn of the inevitable collapse of the Thwaites Glacier, which could lead to catastrophic sea level rise.

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change reveals that the melting of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier," will continue to accelerate throughout the 21st century, regardless of the level of global warming.

The Thwaites Glacier is located in West Antarctica and is one of the largest glaciers in the world. It is responsible for about 4% of global sea level rise, and scientists have long feared that its collapse could lead to an additional 65 feet of sea level rise.

The new study, which was conducted by an international team of scientists, used a computer model to simulate the future behavior of the Thwaites Glacier under different climate scenarios. The results of the simulation showed that the glacier will continue to lose mass and retreat at an accelerating rate, even if global warming is limited to the 1.5 degrees Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement.

The study's findings are particularly concerning because they suggest that the Thwaites Glacier is already committed to collapse, regardless of future climate actions. This means that even if we are able to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we will still see significant sea level rise from the Thwaites Glacier.

The collapse of the Thwaites Glacier would have a devastating impact on coastal communities around the world. Sea levels would rise by 65 feet, inundating low-lying areas and forcing millions of people to relocate.

The study's findings highlight the urgent need to take action on climate change. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of sea level rise that we will experience from the Thwaites Glacier and other glaciers around the world.