One of Earth’s most formidable glaciers, Thwaites Glacier, has snagged a piece of research equipment, frustrating scientists eager to study it. A team from the British Antarctic Survey and the Korea Polar Research Institute went to Antarctica to investigate how warm water beneath the glacier accelerates ice melting. But halfway through their mission, their instruments became stuck in the ice, halting the project before it fully launched.
“Fieldwork in Antarctica is always risky,” said Keith Makinson, an oceanographer and drilling engineer with BAS. “You have a narrow window for everything to work. While this outcome is disappointing, the data we did gather is valuable and will inform future research.”
Known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” Thwaites is a significant concern for climate scientists. If it collapses completely, it could raise global sea levels by up to 25 inches (65 cm), which threatens low-lying cities and millions of lives.
Thwaites Glacier is largely unstable, and we know little about the warming waters below. This recent expedition aimed to measure those underwater conditions. The scientists used hot water to drill a borehole about 3,300 feet deep (1,000 meters) and 11 inches wide (30 cm) to lower their instruments. This hole required constant monitoring to prevent it from freezing over again.
During their temporary deployment, the researchers managed to collect crucial data. They discovered turbulent ocean conditions and warmer waters beneath the glacier, which can speed up melting. However, when they tried to lower a mooring system that would relaunch data over the coming years, the instruments became lodged deep within the ice—likely due to the rapid movement of the glacier or refreezing water.
With the ship scheduled to leave on February 7, the team had to abandon the trapped instruments. “Failure is part of pushing scientific boundaries,” said Peter Davis, another BAS oceanographer. “We know heat under Thwaites drives ice loss. These observations, even if not complete, are still significant.”
This expedition wasn’t the team’s first attempt; they faced setbacks last year due to severe sea-ice conditions. This time, despite challenges, they gathered invaluable data about the glacier’s melting process.
Experts emphasize the urgency of studying Thwaites Glacier. According to a recent study by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC), the glacier is losing an average of 50 billion tons of ice each year. Researchers stress that understanding these dynamics is critical as climate change accelerates.
“This is not the end of the road,” said chief scientist Won Sang Lee. “What we’ve learned here confirms the importance of ongoing study, despite the obstacles.”
In summary, while setbacks can be disheartening, they often pave the way for future discoveries. The Thwaites Glacier remains a focal point for understanding climate change and its long-term effects on sea-level rise.
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