Antarctica: “Apocalypse Glacier” threatens to crack and cause sea level to rise


It is located in Antarctica, is the size of Great Britain and is qualified “apocalyptic”. The Thwaites Glacier, considered the most important in the world, worries more and more glaciologists, relates The Guardian. And for good reason, the glacier has large cracks that could evolve into fractures and lead to a rise in sea level of more than half a meter around the world, warned glaciologists meeting this week in New Orleans, United States.

Studies show that this glacier is melting much faster than in the 1990s, and parts of the block of ice could even break off in the next five years.

Scientists are also worried about the melting of many other large glaciers in Antarctica, further reports The Guardian. Indeed, many are “retained” by the Thwaites Glacier which acts as a plug and blocks their movement.

This is what alarms glaciologists. If the “apocalypse glacier” collapsed, the others could quickly follow and thus cause a rise in sea level equivalent to several meters. The British newspaper also recalls that the annual rate of increase in ocean level more than doubled between 2006 and 2015, from 1.4 mm to 3.6 mm and is tending to accelerate.

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