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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: New research from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration reveals that the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier," is melting faster than expected and may be on an irreversible path to collapse
• The glacier’s retreat has accelerated over the past 30 years, leading scientists to predict catastrophic sea-level rise
🔭 The context: Thwaites Glacier holds enough water to raise global sea levels by over 2 feet and acts as a barrier for the larger Antarctic Ice Sheet
• The glacier’s vulnerability, caused by its downward-sloping land and exposure to warm ocean water, has long been recognized, but new research highlights unexpected melting mechanisms and rapid ice retreat
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Thwaites’ collapse could trigger up to 10 feet of sea level rise, endangering coastal cities globally, including Miami, London, and vulnerable regions like Bangladesh and the Pacific Islands
⏭️ What's next: Scientists predict Thwaites and the Antarctic Ice Sheet could fully collapse within 200 years, with more research needed to determine if this process is now irreversible
💬 One quote: “I remain very worried that this sector of Antarctica is already in a state of collapse.” — Eric Rignot, glaciologist at the University of California, Irvine
📈 One stat: Thwaites Glacier holds enough water to raise sea levels by more than 2 feet
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