Thwaites Glacier: Antarctic Ice Sheet and Sea-Level Rise

Category: Geography & Climate Change

  • Thwaites Glacier is located in West Antarctica.
  • It is part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
  • It is sometimes called the “Doomsday Glacier” in popular reporting because of its potential contribution to sea-level rise.
  • Its grounding zone and ice shelves are important in determining how rapidly the glacier loses ice.
  • Warmer ocean water contributes to basal melting in parts of the glacier system.
  • Complete collapse would not occur immediately, but long-term instability could have major implications for global sea levels.
  • UPSC Focus: Antarctica, ice-sheet dynamics, grounding line, sea-level rise.