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‘Doomsday Glacier’ hanging on ‘by its fingernails’ in Antarctica, scientists say

A glacier three times the size of Tasmania is hanging on “by its fingernails”, scientists have warned.

A new study reveals that Antarctica’s “Doomsday glacier” is hanging on “by its fingernails". Picture: AFP
A new study reveals that Antarctica’s “Doomsday glacier” is hanging on “by its fingernails". Picture: AFP

Thwaites Glacier — otherwise known as the “Doomsday glacier,” due to the fact it could raise the sea level by several metres — is allegedly hanging on “by its fingernails”.

Scientists discovered that the glacier’s underwater base has been eroding due to the increase in the Earth’s temperature, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience.

“Thwaites is really holding on today by its fingernails,” said Robert Larter, a marine geophysicist who co-authored the study.

“And we should expect to see big changes over small timescales in the future — even from one year to the next — once the glacier retreats beyond a shallow ridge in its bed.”

West Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is roughly three times the size of Tasmania and could potentially raise the sea level should it fall into the ocean, which scientists predicted could happen within the next three years.

NASA said the Amundsen Sea region, which is “only a fraction of the whole West Antarctic Ice Sheet,” would “raise global sea level by about 5m”.

Researchers have monitored the glacier’s recession since “as recently as the mid-20th century,” according to lead author Alastair Graham, and have recorded a disintegration rate of nearly double since the last decade.

Earlier this year, an international group of scientists attempted to study the glacier in an effort to help stop the erosion, however, the group was thwarted by a chunk of ice from the doomed glacier.

Graham stated that it “was truly a once-in-a-lifetime mission” and he hopes that the team will be able to return to the glacier soon — since scientists believed the erosion was working at a slower pace before the study was published.

“Just a small kick to the Thwaites could lead to a big response,” said Graham.

This article was originally published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/doomsday-glacier-hanging-on-by-its-fingernails-in-antarctica-scientists-say/news-story/51d35959fa818dab60811b19c362d5b9