Scientists got their first up-close look at what’s eating away part of Antarctica’s Thwaites ice shelf, nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier, and it’s both good and bad news.
Using a 13-foot pencil-shaped robot that swam under the grounding line where ice first juts over the sea, scientists saw a shimmery critical point in Thwaites’ chaotic breakup, “where it’s melting so quickly there, there’s just material streaming out of the glacier,” said robot creator and polar scientist Britney Schmidt of Cornell University.
Before, scientists had no observations from this critical but hard-to-reach point on Thwaites. But with the robot named Icefin lowered down a slender, 1,925-foot hole, they saw how important crevasses are in the fracturing of the ice, which takes the heaviest toll on the glacier — even more than melting.
“That’s how the glacier is falling apart. It’s not thinning and going away. It shatters,” said Schmidt, lead author of one of two studies in Wednesday’s journal Nature.
That fracturing “potentially accelerates the overall demise of that ice shelf,” said Paul Cutler, the Thwaites program director for the National Science Foundation, who returned from the ice last week. “It’s eventual mode of failure may be through falling apart.”
Dichek/Icefin/ITGC via AP
A robot nicknamed Icefin is deployed in January 2020 at Thwaites glacier in Antarctica.
The work comes out of a massive $50 million, multiyear international research effort to better understand the widest glacier in the world. The Florida-sized glacier got the Doomsday Glacier nickname because of how much ice it has and how much seas could rise if it all melts: more than 2 feet, though that’s expected take hundreds of years.
The melting of Thwaites is dominated by what’s happening underneath, where warmer water nibbles at the bottom, something called basal melting, said Peter Davis, an oceanographer at British Antarctic Survey who is a lead author of one of the studies.
“Thwaites is a rapidly changing system, much more rapidly changing than when we started this work five years ago and even since we were in the field three years ago,” said Oregon State University ice researcher Erin Pettit, who wasn’t part of either study. “I am definitely expecting the rapid change to continue and accelerate over the next few years.”
Pennsylvania State University glaciologist Richard Alley, who also wasn’t part of the studies, said the new work “gives us an important look at processes affecting the crevasses that might eventually break and cause loss of much of the ice shelf.”
The good news: Much of the flat, underwater area they explored is melting much slower than they expected. The bad news: That doesn’t really change how much ice is coming off the land part of the glacier and driving up sea levels, Davis said.
Davis said the melting isn’t nearly the problem at Thwaites that glacier retreat is. The more the glacier breaks up or retreats, the more ice floats in water. When ice is on ground as part of the glacier, it isn’t part of sea rise. When it breaks off land and goes into the water, it adds to the overall water level by displacement — just as ice added to a glass of water raises water level.
And more bad news: This is from the eastern, larger and more stable part of Thwaites. Researchers couldn’t safely land a plane and drill a hole in the ice in the main trunk, which is breaking up much faster. They also found staircase-like crevasses in parts of the more stable eastern side where the break-up is far faster and worse.
The key to seeing exactly how bad conditions are on the glacier would require going to the main trunk and looking at the melting from below. But that would require a helicopter to land on the ice instead of a heavier airplane and would be incredibly difficult, said studies co-author Eric Rignot of the University of California Irvine.
The main trunk’s glacier surface “is so messed up by crevasses it looks like a set of sugar cubes almost. There’s no place to land a plane,” NSF’s Cutler said.
Ted Scambos of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who wasn’t part of the studies, said the results add to understanding how Thwaites is diminishing.
“Unfortunately, this is still going to be a major issue a century from now,” Scambos said in an email. “But our better understanding gives us some time to take action to slow the pace of sea level rise.”
Schmidt/Lawrence/Icefin/NASA PSTAR RISE UP via AP
A robot nicknamed Icefin operates under the sea ice in 2020 near McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
When the skinny robot wended its way through the hole in the ice — made by a jet of hot water — the cameras showed not just the melting water, the crucial crevasses and seabed. It showed critters, especially sea anemones, swimming under the ice.
“To accidentally find them here in this environment was really, really cool,” Schmidt said in an interview. “We were so tired that you kind of wonder like, ‘am I really seeing what I’m seeing?’ You know because there are these little creepy alien guys (the anemones) hanging out on the ice-ocean interface.
“In the background is like all these sparkling stars that are like rocks and sediment and things that were picked up from the glacier,” Schmidt said. “And then the anemones. It’s really kind of a wild experience.”
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
MIND AND I // Shutterstock
Climate anxiety and climate-related trauma are mental health concerns rooted in real experiences, such as natural disasters, and existential worry for the future.
Roughly half of young people—those who will inherit the consequences of climate change complacency and live through the most severe effects of extreme weather—report that climate change negatively affects their daily lives, according to a global survey of 10,000 people between the ages of 16 and 25. The majority of respondents said that in the context of climate change, they are frightened of the years ahead.
This concern is prevalent in the United States as well, with more than half of Americans stating climate change is the single most important issue facing society today. Large swaths of the U.S. are facing climate-related flood risks due to rising sea and freshwater levels and increased rainfall. Roughly 80% of the country is experiencing unusually dry conditions, most notably the Western U.S., which has been gripped by a megadrought. Cities are getting hotter, while wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity. At present, virtually every bit of the U.S. is impacted by climate change.
And yet, most people have done little, or nothing at all, to change their behavior to mitigate their own impact on the environment. When facing a problem so extensive, it can be overwhelming even to attempt to find a manageable solution. But starting small—and starting at all, really—is one of the most important things you can do.
Westfield compiled a list of eight ways people can prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change. Building climate resilience, or the ability to prepare for and respond to climate-related events, may also help ease climate anxiety, improving both the environment and one's quality of life.
MIND AND I // Shutterstock
Climate anxiety and climate-related trauma are mental health concerns rooted in real experiences, such as natural disasters, and existential worry for the future.
Roughly half of young people—those who will inherit the consequences of climate change complacency and live through the most severe effects of extreme weather—report that climate change negatively affects their daily lives, according to a global survey of 10,000 people between the ages of 16 and 25. The majority of respondents said that in the context of climate change, they are frightened of the years ahead.
This concern is prevalent in the United States as well, with more than half of Americans stating climate change is the single most important issue facing society today. Large swaths of the U.S. are facing climate-related flood risks due to rising sea and freshwater levels and increased rainfall. Roughly 80% of the country is experiencing unusually dry conditions, most notably the Western U.S., which has been gripped by a megadrought. Cities are getting hotter, while wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity. At present, virtually every bit of the U.S. is impacted by climate change.
And yet, most people have done little, or nothing at all, to change their behavior to mitigate their own impact on the environment. When facing a problem so extensive, it can be overwhelming even to attempt to find a manageable solution. But starting small—and starting at all, really—is one of the most important things you can do.
Westfield compiled a list of eight ways people can prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change. Building climate resilience, or the ability to prepare for and respond to climate-related events, may also help ease climate anxiety, improving both the environment and one's quality of life.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
Richard Pratt // Shutterstock
Rain gardens can help prevent erosion, absorb standing water, redirect and filter polluted runoff, and recharge groundwater supplies. A single rain garden can treat 25,000 gallons of water each year. In regions of the county like the Northeast, where climate change is predicted to lead to more heavy downpours and flooding, rain gardens can mitigate those issues. In severely drought-prone areas, a rain garden won't be effective, but a rain barrel can help collect water.
Richard Pratt // Shutterstock
Rain gardens can help prevent erosion, absorb standing water, redirect and filter polluted runoff, and recharge groundwater supplies. A single rain garden can treat 25,000 gallons of water each year. In regions of the county like the Northeast, where climate change is predicted to lead to more heavy downpours and flooding, rain gardens can mitigate those issues. In severely drought-prone areas, a rain garden won't be effective, but a rain barrel can help collect water.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
Ray Geiger // Shutterstock
Invasive species often thrive under the extreme conditions of climate change. Plants grow larger and faster when higher carbon dioxide levels—a key consequence of climate change—are present. Research suggests invasive species are more effective at utilizing higher CO2 concentrations. As they grow larger and more prolific, they outcompete native species for space, water, light, and nutrient resources. Removing invasive species cancels this competition and allows native species to thrive.
Ray Geiger // Shutterstock
Invasive species often thrive under the extreme conditions of climate change. Plants grow larger and faster when higher carbon dioxide levels—a key consequence of climate change—are present. Research suggests invasive species are more effective at utilizing higher CO2 concentrations. As they grow larger and more prolific, they outcompete native species for space, water, light, and nutrient resources. Removing invasive species cancels this competition and allows native species to thrive.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
PT Hamilton // Shutterstock
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans use a combined 8 billion gallons of water every day for lawn and garden irrigation, some of which is lost to evaporation and runoff. The majority of household water usage is diverted to outdoor purposes. This is a hugely wasteful use of scarce water resources in severely drought-ridden areas like the American West, and as a result, nonfunctional turf grass is banned in many places. Climate-friendly alternatives include no-mow lawns, turf lawns allowed to grow wild, lawns comprised of drought-tolerant native plants that thrive under local conditions, usually requiring less water, or xeriscaping.
PT Hamilton // Shutterstock
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans use a combined 8 billion gallons of water every day for lawn and garden irrigation, some of which is lost to evaporation and runoff. The majority of household water usage is diverted to outdoor purposes. This is a hugely wasteful use of scarce water resources in severely drought-ridden areas like the American West, and as a result, nonfunctional turf grass is banned in many places. Climate-friendly alternatives include no-mow lawns, turf lawns allowed to grow wild, lawns comprised of drought-tolerant native plants that thrive under local conditions, usually requiring less water, or xeriscaping.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
AlyoshinE // Shutterstock
Some households have the option to choose the source and supplier of their electricity. Where wind or solar is available and compatible, customers may opt for these cleaner sources compared to fossil-fuel-generated electricity. Alternatively, getting set up with solar panels and other renewable energy sources will provide greater energy independence in the face of power outages from natural disasters.
AlyoshinE // Shutterstock
Some households have the option to choose the source and supplier of their electricity. Where wind or solar is available and compatible, customers may opt for these cleaner sources compared to fossil-fuel-generated electricity. Alternatively, getting set up with solar panels and other renewable energy sources will provide greater energy independence in the face of power outages from natural disasters.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
Gaston Cerliani // Shutterstock
Climate change has already prolonged mosquito season by more than a month, with more mosquito days expected in the future. Mosquitoes thrive in temperatures between 50-95 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 42% or higher. An analysis of 239 sites across the U.S. revealed these conditions are becoming more common due to climate change. These changes bring an increased risk for the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus. Some natural ways to repel mosquitoes as mosquito days increase include essential oils, witch hazel, and citronella.
Gaston Cerliani // Shutterstock
Climate change has already prolonged mosquito season by more than a month, with more mosquito days expected in the future. Mosquitoes thrive in temperatures between 50-95 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 42% or higher. An analysis of 239 sites across the U.S. revealed these conditions are becoming more common due to climate change. These changes bring an increased risk for the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus. Some natural ways to repel mosquitoes as mosquito days increase include essential oils, witch hazel, and citronella.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
A3pfamily // Shutterstock
Trees are stalwart defenders against climate change, particularly in urban heat islands, which often lose trees to housing and infrastructure development. Trees can mitigate the impacts of extreme heat by releasing water vapor and cooling the air around them, as well as shading the ground beneath them. Their absorbent roots reduce flooding and prevent soil erosion. Residents can seek out community planting or beautification organizations that plant and maintain trees in public spaces.
A3pfamily // Shutterstock
Trees are stalwart defenders against climate change, particularly in urban heat islands, which often lose trees to housing and infrastructure development. Trees can mitigate the impacts of extreme heat by releasing water vapor and cooling the air around them, as well as shading the ground beneath them. Their absorbent roots reduce flooding and prevent soil erosion. Residents can seek out community planting or beautification organizations that plant and maintain trees in public spaces.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
AYA images // Shutterstock
Farmers are facing less reliable growing seasons due to climate change. Some have been forced to fallow fields because there isn't enough water to sustain their crops. In other parts of the country, too much rain is drowning young plants. Invasive species which thrive under extreme conditions are decimating the crops that do succeed. Supporting local farmers contending with these variables will not only keep the cost to consumers down but will also ensure growers stay in business. Community-supported agriculture groups exist across the country, and many communities and local co-ops sponsor regular farmers markets, where local farmers have direct access to the buying public.
AYA images // Shutterstock
Farmers are facing less reliable growing seasons due to climate change. Some have been forced to fallow fields because there isn't enough water to sustain their crops. In other parts of the country, too much rain is drowning young plants. Invasive species which thrive under extreme conditions are decimating the crops that do succeed. Supporting local farmers contending with these variables will not only keep the cost to consumers down but will also ensure growers stay in business. Community-supported agriculture groups exist across the country, and many communities and local co-ops sponsor regular farmers markets, where local farmers have direct access to the buying public.
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Skinny robot documents forces eroding Doomsday Glacier
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
Getting involved at a hyper-local level through a homeowner or neighborhood association can position you to effect small but impactful immediate changes, initiate climate-centric conversations, and find a group of people working towards the same goal. HOAs often provide access to volunteering opportunities, as well as standardized maintenance protocols, which can mitigate the overuse of water and other resources.
This story originally appeared on Westfield and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
Getting involved at a hyper-local level through a homeowner or neighborhood association can position you to effect small but impactful immediate changes, initiate climate-centric conversations, and find a group of people working towards the same goal. HOAs often provide access to volunteering opportunities, as well as standardized maintenance protocols, which can mitigate the overuse of water and other resources.
This story originally appeared on Westfield and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
