Underwater ‘storms’ are eating away at the Doomsday Glacier

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🗞️ Driving the news: New research reveals that underwater "storms" are significantly accelerating the melting of Antarctic glaciers, including the critical Thwaites Glacier, which could lead to a substantial rise in global sea levels
• These storms, known as submesoscales, churn ocean water rapidly beneath the ice shelves, enhancing melting over short periods

🔭 The context: The study, which focused on the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, highlights a feedback loop where melting ice increases the amount of cold water entering the ocean, mixing with warmer water to generate even more turbulence and accelerate ice loss
• The potential consequences are severe, as the collapse of the Thwaites Glacier alone could lead to a rise of up to 10 feet in global sea levels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These findings are critical as they suggest that these fast-moving underwater storms could play a larger role in sea level rise than previously understood
• If climate change intensifies this process, it could drastically accelerate the loss of ice in Antarctica, leading to more severe coastal flooding worldwide

⏭️ What’s next: While the study provides valuable insights, scientists stress that more real-world data is needed to fully understand the long-term impact of these underwater storms on ice sheet decay and global sea level rise

💬 One quote: "Studying these fine-scale ocean phenomena is the next frontier when it comes to the ocean-ice interactions that help us understand ice loss and, ultimately, sea level rise." — Lia Siegelman, UC San Diego

📈 One stat: The Thwaites Glacier alone holds enough water to raise sea levels by more than 2 feet, and its collapse could contribute up to 10 feet of sea level rise

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