Much of Thwaites Glacier could be lost by 23rd century, ...
Latest computer models predict that ice loss will accelerate through the 22nd century. ITV National News
www.itv.comI don’t have live access to current news right now. Here’s a concise summary of the latest widely reported themes about the Thwaites ice shelf up to now, plus where to look for the freshest updates.
What’s been reported recently
- The Thwaites system remains a major focal point for sea level rise research because its stability strongly influences West Antarctic Ice Sheet behavior. Recent assessments emphasize continued uncertainty about how quickly the ice shelf could disintegrate and how that would feed into faster grounding-line retreat and overall ice loss.[3][4]
- Some studies and briefing materials suggest that while certain melting processes under the shelf may be less aggressive than once feared, other mechanisms such as cracking, fracture, and enhanced basal melting in contact with warm ocean waters continue to drive changes that could accelerate retreat in the coming decades. This dual picture—slower melting in some areas but persistent structural weakening—keeps projections highly contingent on future emissions and ocean conditions.[2][4][3]
- Major science collaborations and climate coverage have highlighted the potential for significant regional changes within the next 20–100 years, including possible disintegration of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf and continued uncertainty about how quickly the glacier front may respond to evolving ocean and atmospheric forcing. These insights underpin both high-end and more conservative sea level rise scenarios.[4][2][3]
Where to find the latest updates
- International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration and related research portals often publish quarterly or semi-annual briefings, news releases, and data summaries on ice shelf dynamics, melt rates, and grounding-zone changes. Check the ITGC News pages and affiliated university pages for the newest findings.[4]
- Reputable science outlets and climate-news aggregators frequently synthesize ITGC results and model projections, including worst-case scenarios and the likelihood of accelerated collapse timelines; sources like Inside Climate News, ITV coverage of ITGC findings, and major newspapers’ climate desks are good starting points for recent interpretations.[2][3]
- For a historical context and ongoing updates, keep an eye on long-running monitoring efforts and archived reports from BBC, Washington Post, and other science outlets that track the evolving understanding of Thwaites Glacier and its ice shelf.[5][7][8]
Illustration
- A simplified mental map: imagine the Thwaites system as a large floating ice shelf buttressing a fast-flowing glacier behind it. If warm ocean water intrudes and fractures widen, the front can retreat more quickly, potentially weakening the buttress and allowing the grounded ice to flow more rapidly toward the ocean. This dynamic underpins the range of projected outcomes discussed in recent briefs.[3][4]
Would you like me to pull the very latest headlines from specific outlets (e.g., ITGC News, ITV, Inside Climate News) and summarize them with links? I can also compile a brief table comparing the different projection scenarios and their key assumptions if that would help.