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The ice shelves of the Pine Island glacier and Thwaites glacier have begun to fracture, according to a new study published today.
These are, quite simply, the most important chunks of ice in the world, and they will likely determine (in part) the fate of our civilization.
These are, quite simply, the most important chunks of ice in the world, and they will likely determine (in part) the fate of our civilization.
Back in 2017, I described this scenario as the beginning stages of an "ice apocalypse": https://grist.org/article/antarctica-doomsday-glaciers-could-flood-coastal-cities/
As always, @chriscmooney has a masterful description of exactly what today's study means.
In short, the natural brakes on the glaciers are shearing off. Their flow towards the sea is accelerating. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/14/glaciers-breaking-antarctica-pine-island-thwaites/?hpid=hp_no-name_301pm-antarcticice%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
In short, the natural brakes on the glaciers are shearing off. Their flow towards the sea is accelerating. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/14/glaciers-breaking-antarctica-pine-island-thwaites/?hpid=hp_no-name_301pm-antarcticice%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
The paper itself is worth a look too, it's very clearly written.
It's sure to further elevate the swarm of scientific interest in this extremely important part of the world. https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/09/08/1912890117
It's sure to further elevate the swarm of scientific interest in this extremely important part of the world. https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/09/08/1912890117
If we lose the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, life as we know it will change, permanently.
We are in a climate emergency.
We are in a climate emergency.
