A Look into Antarctica’s So-called Doomsday Glacier
By Joshua Godwin Cuevas
The continent of Antarctica is among the most isolated places on Earth. Although a few hundred researchers are stationed there depending on the season, it lacks any permanent inhabitants. Considering that it boasts the lowest temperatures in any continent and is extremely scarce of resources, this is to be expected. Yet, in a place so far from civilization, humanity has so much at stake here.
Most of the land area in Antarctica is covered by a thick sheet of ice. Man-made climate change has caused the coastal ice around the continent to melt, albeit at different speeds. On one hand, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet lies above sea level due to the steep topography of the underlying bedrock. Thus, it is relatively safe from contact with warm ocean waters and is melting at a stable rate. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet, however, is different. The region is much smaller but more susceptible to changes brought about by climate change. Unlike its counterpart, it does not lie on high ground; the land beneath it is below sea level. This means that the ice sheet is actually submerged beneath the ocean. Warm waters can therefore penetrate the area, which causes the ice sheet to melt at a rapid pace. The Thwaites Glacier lies at the heart of West Antarctica and, for the reason stated above, many scientists consider it to be the most dangerous glacier in the world. Some would even go as far as calling it the “doomsday glacier”.
The Thwaites Glacier covers an area of approximately 192,000 square kilometers. In contrast, the entire Philippines is around 300,00 square kilometers. The glacier currently contributes 4% to global sea level rise — a massive amount for a single body of ice — and that number will only increase in the near future. Research has shown, however, that by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, it is feasible to change the course of Antarctica’s future. This is an important consideration to make because some scientists believe that a potential collapse may occur during the next few decades, while some are stating that the collapse is already underway. If it does happen, the glacier holds enough water to raise the world’s sea level by half a meter. Furthermore, due to its location relative to the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, its collapse may trigger the entire region to go down with it, resulting in an even higher surge in sea level.
Scientists are now on a race to understand the glacier and probe its secrets. The problem is the place is remote even by Antarctic standards. Thwaites Glacier is about 1.5 kilometers away from the nearest research station in the continent. In fact, it is so remote that only 28 human beings have ever set foot on the place. As much as the glacier’s situation is important to coastal cities such as Manila, there is only so much that can be done from here. It is alarming to think that the impetus of a potential catastrophe is literally oceans away.
References
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