Scientists have been closely monitoring Antarctica’s “Doomsday” glacier since the 1970s. But recent studies show a faster rate of melting. And now the first-ever images from a pencil-shaped, 13-foot underwater robot reveal the critical softening point of the ice formation’s chaotic breakup, as scientists have described it. So here are five things to know about what is officially called Thwaites Glacier — but has earned the notable nickname “Doomsday” glacier — including why its constant state of melting poses risks to rising sea levels, human health and safety.
What is the “Doomsday” glacier? The Florida-sized glacier has gotten the nickname the “Doomsday” glacier because of how much ice it has and how much seas could rise if it all melts. Officially known as the Thwaites Glacier, the ice formation in Antarctica at the southern tip of the Earth, is capable of pushing up sea levels by more than 2 feet (65 centimeters) if it detaches, although that’s expected take hundreds of years. The latest developments come out of a massive $50 million multi-year international research effort to better understand the widest glacier in the world. You can find out more from the groups heading the effort to monitor Thwaites. Read …