Scientists Are Racing to Study Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Before It’s Too Late

Scientists Are Racing to Study Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Before It’s Too Late

A ship carrying nearly 40 scientists has left New Zealand for one of the most dangerous and important research missions on earth. That mission? Studying Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, which is often dramatically but not incorrectly referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier.” The glacier earned that nickname because, if it melts, it could raise sea levels by up to 10 inches and have devastating effects on coastal cities worldwide.

The team of scientists will be studying the glacier's melting rate and how it affects the surrounding ecosystem. They will also be collecting data on the glacier's thickness and how it has changed over time.

The research is crucial because the Thwaites Glacier is one of the most unstable glaciers in Antarctica, and its melting could have catastrophic consequences for the planet.

^[8] Scientists Are Racing to Study Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Before It’s Too Late (https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientists-are-racing-to-study-antarcticas-doomsday-glacier-before-its-too-late/)

Sources

^[8] Scientists Are Racing to Study Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Before It’s Too Late (https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientists-are-racing-to-study-antarcticas-doomsday-glacier-before-its-too-late/)