Robot
Scientists on global alert: underwater robot makes worrying discovery at Doomsday Glacier, putting the world on critical alert
Doomsday Glacier, known as Thwaites, located in Antarctica, is one of the biggest threats to sea level rise. This gigantic mass of ice has the potential to raise ocean levels by up to 3 meters if it melts completely. Recently, new studies have revealed that the situation is even more alarming than previously thought, putting scientists around the world on alert.
This discovery reinforced concerns about the future of Thwaites, which already contributes 4% to annual sea level rise. Functioning as a natural dam for the surrounding ice in West Antarctica, its collapse could trigger a catastrophic rise in sea levels, with devastating consequences for coastal regions around the world.
An autonomous underwater robot belonging to the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, mysteriously disappears after making unprecedented discoveries under the Thwaites glacier. The six-meter-long submarine Ran was sent in 2020 to explore what is considered one of the most dangerous glaciers in the world. During its operations, Ran identified a series of unknown structures beneath the ice, which caused great concern in the scientific community. The robot's latest transmission indicated that ocean water is invading the base of the glacier, accelerating its melting with warmer, salty water, contributing to global sea level rise of up to 60 centimeters.
The Thwaites Glacier is the widest in the world, with an area comparable to the US state of Florida. Its location, on downward-sloping land, makes it extremely vulnerable to erosion caused by seawater. This particularity makes Thwaites the most unstable glacier in Antarctica, which worries scientists about its future. Researchers have been monitoring the impact of climate change on ocean currents for decades, and evidence shows that warmer seawater is being pushed toward the coasts of Antarctica and other polar regions, according to scientists.
This scenario places Thwaites in a critical position, with the potential to trigger a major glacial collapse due to accelerated melting, affecting sea levels globally and posing serious risks to shipping routes around the planet. Continuous monitoring and analysis of collected data is crucial to understanding the progression of these consequences and their potential consequences. The situation demands global attention and rapid action to mitigate the impacts of climate change, which is already altering the delicate balance of glaciers in Antarctica.