Explore the latest developments concerning The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s.
The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s giant ice shelf is about to break away
The floating ice shelf of world’s widest glacier – Thwaites glacier in Antarctica – is detaching, with worrying implications for global sea-level rise
The Araon, a South Korean ice-breaker vessel, navigates a bed of sea ice near the Thwaites glacier in January 2026Chang W. Lee/New York Times/ Redux/eyevine
The Araon, a South Korean ice-breaker vessel, navigates a bed of sea ice near the Thwaites glacier in January 2026
Antarctica’s most threatened glacier is about be further destabilised, as the floating ice shelf in front of Thwaites glacier is set to break away.
“Its final demise could happen suddenly, and to avoid being caught on the hop, we have already prepared an ‘obituary’ press release,” says Rob Larter at the British Antarctic Survey.
Antarctica’s Thwaites Ice Shelf is tearing apart as collapse nears
The floating ice shelf in front of Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier is on the verge of breaking away, with satellite images showing alarming signs that the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf will imminently detach. The shelf is already tearing apart around the point that has helped hold it in place.
Thwaites is the world’s widest glacier, about the size of Britain, and it already accounts for 4 per cent of all global sea-level rise. If it collapses, scientists expect a domino effect through the entire West Antarctic ice sheet, which could add 3.3 metres to sea levels.
The eastern shelf is not a small fringe of ice. It covers about 1,500 square kilometres and is roughly 350 metres thick, but by some measures the break-up is already under way. Huge fractures are opening around the pinning point and along the grounding line, the boundary where the glacier meets the ocean and starts to float.
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'Doomsday’ ice shelf from glacier the size of Britain BREAKING apart
Scientists have taken the unusual step of drafting a press release in advance to announce the shelf's eventual collapse
Antarctica's Thwaites glacier, widely known as the "doomsday glacier," stands on the brink of a significant transformation as its eastern ice shelf prepares to detach.
Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey have taken the unusual step of drafting a press release in advance to announce the shelf's eventual collapse.
"Its final demise could happen suddenly, and to avoid being caught on the hop, we have already prepared an 'obituary' press release," says Rob Larter, of the British Antarctic Survey.
The glacier, roughly equivalent in size to Britain, currently contributes four per cent of global sea level rise.
For more detailed information, explore updates concerning The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s.
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