The highly fractured frontal margin of the Fimbul Ice Shelf in east Antarctica, and sea ice offshore.
Copernicus EU/ESA
The enormous Thwaites Glacier is nicknamed the “doomsday glacier” because of its relatively large melting contribution to sea level rise.
NASA/USGS
At the end of the last ice age, parts of an enormous ice sheet covering Eurasia retreated up to a startling 2,000 feet per day - more than the length of the Empire State Building, according to a study released Wednesday. The rate is easily the fastest measured to date, upending what scientists previously thought were the upper speed limits for ice sheet retreat - a finding that may shed light on how quickly ice in Greenland and Antarctica could melt and raise global sea levels in today's warming world.
Scientists monitor ice sheet retreat rates to better estimate contributions to global sea level rise. Antarctica and Greenland have lost more than 6.4 trillion tons of ice since the 1990s, boosting global sea levels by at least 0.7 inches (17.8 millimeters). Together, the two ice sheets are responsible for more than one-third of total sea level rise.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%96 C2A:5 C6EC62E 7@F?5 @? E96 tFC2D:2? x46 $966E 72C @FEA246D E96 72DE6DE\>@G:?8 8=24:6CD DEF5:65 :? p?E2C4E:42[ H9:49 92G6 366? >62DFC65 E@ C6EC62E 2D BF:4<=J 2D `e_ 766E A6C 52J] ~?46 E96 :46 C6EC62ED E@H2C5 E96 =2?5[ :E =:7ED 7C@> :ED 8C@F?5:?8 @? E96 D627=@@C 2?5 368:?D E@ 7=@2E[ 2==@H:?8 :E E@ 7=@H 72DE6C 2?5 :?4C62D6 E96 4@?EC:3FE:@? E@ D62 =6G6= C:D6]k^Am
kAmx7 2:C 2?5 @462? E6>A6C2EFC6D 2C@F?5 p?E2C4E:42 H6C6 E@ :?4C62D6 2D AC@;64E65 2?5 >2E49 E9@D6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 =2DE :46 286[ C6D62C496CD D2J :46 >2C49:?8 324<H2C5 9F?5C65D @7 766E :? 2 52J 4@F=5 EC:886C 2 4@==2AD6 @7 >@56C?\52J 8=24:6CD D@@?6C E92? AC6G:@FD=J E9@F89E] %92E 4@F=5 36 56G2DE2E:?8 7@C 8=@32= D62 =6G6=D]k^Am
kAmQx7 E6>A6C2EFC6D 4@?E:?F6 E@ C:D6[ E96? H6 >:89E 92G6 E96 :46 36:?8 >6=E65 2?5 E9:??65 7C@>
23@G6 2D H6== 2D 7C@> 36=@H[Q D2:5 =625 2FE9@C r9C:DE:?6 q2E496=@C[ QD@ E92E 4@F=5 <:?5 @7 6?5 FA H:E9 2 D46?2C:@ E92E =@@<D >@C6 D:>:=2C E@ H92E H6 925 ,@77. }@CH2J 27E6C E96 =2DE 8=24:2E:@?]Qk^Am
kAmx? E96 ?6H DEF5J[ q2E496=@C 2?5 96C 4@==628F6D 2?2=JK65 7@C>6C 365D @7 EH@ >2;@C :46 DEC62>D 24C@DD E96 }@CH68:2? 4@?E:?6?E2= :46 D96=7 52E:?8 324< E@ `d[___ E@ `h[___ J62CD 28@] &D:?8 D9:A\3@C?6 :>286CJ[ E96 E62> 42=4F=2E65 E96 C2E6D @7 C6EC62E 3J DEF5J:?8 A2EE6C?D @7 H2G6=:<6 C:586D 2=@?8 E96 D627=@@C] %96J 56E6C>:?65 E96 @C56C=J C:586 A2EE6C?D H6C6 AC@323=J 4C62E65 2D E96 7C@?E @7 E96 8=24:6C 3@F?465 @? E96 D627=@@C 7C@> 52:=J E:56D] %96 E62> >2AA65 E96 DA24:?8 @7 E96 >@C6 E92? f[___ C:586D E@ 42=4F=2E6 E96 C2E6 @7 C6EC62E]k^Am
kAmQ%96 :46 D966E 42? >@G6 @G6C D6G6C2= <:=@>6E6CD A6C 52J[ E@F49:?8 5@H? 2E E96 =@H E:56 2?5 E96 9:89 E:56 AC@5F4:?8 E96D6 C:586D 2D :E 5@6D D@[ <:?5 @7 3@33:?8 FA 2?5 5@H? @? E96 E:56[Q D2:5 q2E496=@C[ 2 A9JD:42= 86@8C2A96C 2E }6H42DE=6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 E62> 7@F?5 E96 C6EC62E C2E6D C2?865 7C@> `g_ E@ a[___ 766E A6C 52J] %96 6IEC6>6 C2E6D @?=J =2DE65 @? 2 D42=6 @7 52JD E@ >@?E9D 2?5 AC@323=J 4@F=5?VE 36 DFDE2:?65 7@C >F49 =@?86C] x7 2? :46 D966E C6EC62E65 2C@F?5 e__ >6E6CD A6C 52J 7@C 2 J62C[ q2E496=@C D2:5[ J@F AC@323=J H@F=5?VE 92G6 2?J :46 =67E]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D :D ?@E 2 >@56=] %9:D :D C62= @3D6CG2E:@?] p?5 :E :D 7C2?<=J D42CJ] tG6? E@ >6[Q tC:4 #:8?@E[ 2 8=24:@=@8:DE H9@ H2D ?@E :?G@=G65 :? E96 DEF5J[ D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=]k^Am
kAmx? E96 A2DE[ @?6 @7 E96 72DE6DE C6EC62E C2E6D 56E64E65 7@C 2 8=24:6C H2D 2E !@A6 v=24:6C :? (6DE p?E2C4E:42[ 2 D>2==6C 8=24:6C E92EVD G6CJ 4=@D6 E@ E96 6?@C>@FD %9H2:E6D v=24:6C[ ?:4<?2>65 E96 Q5@@>D52J 8=24:6CQ 3642FD6 @7 :ED C6=2E:G6=J =2C86 >6=E:?8 4@?EC:3FE:@? E@ D62 =6G6= C:D6] sFC:?8 2 A6C:@5 :? a_`f[ 32D65 @? D2E6==:E6 42=4F=2E:@?D[ !@A6 v=24:6C C6EC62E65 2E 2 DA665 @7 23@FE `_d 766E Wba >6E6CDX A6C 52J] %92EVD BF:E6 72DE \ 3FE DE:== ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E96 C2E6D @7 2D >F49 2D a[___ 766E A6C 52J[ E96 DEF5J 7@F?5 7@C E96 tFC2D:2? :46 D966E]k^Am
kAm%96 FAA6C C2E6 7@F?5 :? E96 DEF5J C6=62D65 (65?6D52J :D 23@FE a_ E:>6D 9:896C E92? 2?J C6EC62E C2E6 >62DFC65 7C@> D2E6==:E6D[ 2?5 `a E:>6D 72DE6C E92? 2?J C6EC62E C2E6 :?76CC65 7C@> D:>:=2C =2?57@C>D @? E96 D627=@@C[ q2E496=@C D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 C2E6 @7 C6EC62E 2E !@A6 92D ?@H D=@H65 5@H?[ 2?5 D:>:=2C=J[ 7@C E96 tFC2D:2? :46 D966E[ E96 AF=D6 @7 6IEC6>6=J C2A:5 C6EC62E H@F=5 92G6 366? E6>A@C2CJ] $E:==[ :EVD H@CCJ:?8[ D2:5 #:8?@E[ @?6 @7 E96 D4:6?E:DED H9@ AF3=:D965 2 a_aa A2A6C E92E 5@4F>6?E65 !@A6 v=24:6CVD C6EC62E]k^Am
kAmQx46 D966ED 2C6 C6EC62E:?8 72DE
E@52J [ ,6DA64:2==J. :? p?E2C4E:42[Q D2:5 #:8?@E[ 2 D4:6?E:DE 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2 2E xCG:?6] QqFE H6 D66 EC246D :? E96 D627=@@C E92E E96 C6EC62E 4@F=5 8@ 72DE6C[ H2J 72DE6C[ 2?5 E9:D :D 2 C6>:?56C E92E H6 92G6 ?@E D66? 6G6CJE9:?8 J6E]Qk^Am
kAm}@E 2== :46 365D 2C6 DFD46AE:3=6 E@ E96D6 6IEC6>6=J C2A:5 C2E6D @7 C6EC62E] %96 DEF5J 7@F?5 E96 72DE6DE >6=E:?8 @44FCC65 @? E96 7=2EE6DE 2C62D @7 E96 :46 365]k^Am
kAmq2E496=@C 2?5 96C 4@==628F6D E96@C:K6 DH:7E C2E6D @7 C6EC62E 2AA62C65 24C@DD 7=2EE6C 2C62D 3642FD6 E96 :46 D=23D H6C6 >@C6 3F@J2?E 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 DE66A6C 8=24:6C D=@A6] $96 D2:5 E96 F?:7@C>=J E9:4<[ 7=2E :46 365 H2D 2=C625J 4=@D6 E@ 7=@2E:?8[ 2D :E D2E @? E@A @7 2 7=2E D627=@@C DFC7246] |:?@C >6=E:?8 4@F=5 AFD9 E96 7=2E :46 365 FA 2?5 >@G6 :E E@H2C5 E96 =2?5[ =:<6 2 =2C86 :46 4F36 E92E 42? 7=@2E @77 E96 @462? 3@EE@> H:E9 6?@F89 E9:??:?8]k^Am
kAmp D=@A:?8 :46 365[ D96 6IA=2:?65[ H@F=5 36 92C56C E@ A@A @77 E96 D627=@@C] %96 :?4=:?65 :46 DFC7246 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 :46 D966E H@F=5 :?4C62D6 Q5C:G:?8 DEC6DD[Q H9:49 H@F=5 AFD9 E96 :46 >@C6 E:89E=J :?E@ E96 8C@F?5] %96 DE66A6C :46 365D H@F=5 36 =6DD =:<6=J E@ =:7E 7C@> E96 D627=@@C 5FC:?8 E:52= >@G6>6?ED 2?5 364@>6 3F@J2?E]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D 2C6 4@?46C?:?8 7@C D6G6C2= 4FCC6?E 8=24:6CD :? p?E2C4E:42 ?62C 7=2E :46 365D[ q2E496=@C D2:5] u@C 6I2>A=6[ %9H2:E6D v=24:6C :D A:??65 @? 2 C:586 3FE 92D 2 7=2E 2C62 @7 :ED 365 ;FDE 7@FC <:=@>6E6CD 72CE96C :?=2?5] q2E496=@C D2:5 :7 E96 :46 H6C6 E@ C6EC62E 324< E@ E9:D 7=2E 2C62 @7 :ED 365[ E96? QH6 4@F=5 H6== D66 @?6 @7 E96D6 AF=D6D @7 C62==J C2A:5 C6EC62E E2<:?8 A=246 :? E92E 2C62]Qk^Am
kAm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE9 u=@C:52 >2C:?6 86@A9JD:4:DE p=2DE2:C vC292>[ H9@ H2D ?@E :?G@=G65 :? E96 DEF5J[ D2:5 96 :D Q42FE:@FD 23@FE 5C2H:?8 5:C64E =:?6DQ 36EH66? 9@H E96 =2DE :46 D966E @G6C }@CH2J >6=E65 2H2J 23@FE `d[___ J62CD 28@ 2?5 H92E :D 92AA6?:?8 :? p?E2C4E:42 ?@H \ :? A2CE 3642FD6 D62 =6G6= H2D C:D:?8 >F49 72DE6C 324< E96?]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D >2J 36 2 4C:E:42= 5C:G6C @7 A2DE C2A:5 492?86 E92E H6 H@?VE D66 C6A62E65 2E E96 D2>6 D42=6 ?@H @C :? E96 ?62C 7FEFC6[Q 96 D2:5] }@CH2J :D 2=D@ =@42E65 :? 2 >F49 >@C6 E6>A6C2E6 A=246 E92? p?E2C4E:42 2?5 H@F=5 92G6 925 2 >F49 >@C6 GF=?6C23=6 :46 D966E]k^Am
kAmx? 2?J 42D6[ 96 D2:5 QE96 7:?5:?8 E92E :46 D966ED 2C6 42A23=6 @7 6IEC6>6=J C2A:5 492?86 2D E96J 6DD6?E:2==J =:7E 2H2J 7C@> E96:C 365 :D 2? 6I4:E:?8 @?6Q 2?5 2=:8?D H:E9 9:D @H? E62>VD C6D62C49] $:>:=2C=J 2?2=JK:?8 C:586D 2=@?8 E96 D627=@@C ?62C %9H2:E6D[ vC292> H2D Q2DE@?:D965Q E@ 5@4F>6?E E96 8=24:6C 925 AF=D6D @7 C6EC62E FA E@ ba 766E W`_ >6E6CDX A6C 52J 2E E96 :46 7C@?E] w6 28C66D E92E E96 8=24:6C :D =:<6=J E@ D66 QAF=D6DQ @7 BF:4< C6EC62E :? E96 4@>:?8 564256D E@ 46?EFC:6D[ 3FE :D F?46CE2:? :7 :E H:== 36 @? E96 @C56C @7 9F?5C65D @7 >6E6CD A6C 52J]k^Am
kAm*6E v=24:@=@8:DE p?5C6H $96A96C5 @7 }@CE9F>3C:2 &?:G6CD:EJ[ H9@ H2D ?@E :?G@=G65 :? E96 DEF5J[ D2:5 E96 C6EC62E DA665D @7 E96 tFC2D:2? :46 D966E >2J ?@E 24EF2==J 36 D@ 5:776C6?E 7C@> H92E 42? 92AA6? E@52J] %92EVD 3642FD6 E96 ?6H C6D62C49 :D 32D65 @? D627=@@C >2C<:?8D E92E H@F=5 92G6 92AA6?65 EH:46 52:=J] x? 4@?EC2DE[ E@52JVD D2E6==:E6D 92G6 86?6C2==J 366? FD65 E@ >2<6 2??F2= >62DFC6>6?ED @7 492?86[ $96A96C5 D2:5[ D@ E96JVC6 ?@E 8@@5 2E 56E64E:?8 C2A:5[ 3FE C6=2E:G6=J D9@CE\=:G65[ A6C:@5D @7 492?86]k^Am
kAmQx 5@?VE E9:?< E92E ,E96 ?6H C6D62C49. 492?86D H92E H6 E9:?<
23@FE ] ] ] C6EC62E @? =@?86C W6]8] 2??F2=X E:>6 D42=6D[ :E ;FDE E6==D FD E92E C6EC62E 92AA6?D :?
D9@CE :?E6?D6 3FCDED E92E 2C6 =:<6=J :?E6CDA6CD65 H:E9 =@?8 A2FD6D[Q $96A96C5 D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=]k^Am
