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Concerns are mounting over the Antarctic Ice Sheet – also known as the Doomsday Glacier – as studies show it is melting at its fastest rate ever. Scientists say pumping seawater over the ice sheets could help preserve this vital landscape.
Antarctica is a place many humans will never visit, but its glacial landscape is extremely vital to each one of our lives.
One glacier – the Thwaites Glacier – is of particular importance. This colossal ice formation dwarfs Great Britain and measures 2,000 metres thick in some areas. Since 2018, scientists have been keeping an eye on the Thwaites, documenting its thickness and melting rate.
In recent days, they’ve published some alarming findings. The Thwaites Glacier is reportedly retreating at an unprecedented speed. Between the 1990s and 2010s, the volume of melted ice flowing into the sea from the glacier has more than doubled.
Given that its total collapse would raise global sea levels by 65cm, this event would have catastrophic consequences for hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas and low-lying lands. As a result, this glacier has been commonly called the ‘Doomsday Glacier’.
Hoping to avoid this event, one startup has developed on a rescue plan for this unique environment. Its team has developed a strategy to help the glacier regain its mass, with trial runs already underway.
