Q: What is the Doomsday glacier?

The Doomsday glacier is a nickname for the Thwaites glacierThe glacier is named after glacial geologist Fredrik Thwaites. . The Antarctic glacier is one of the largest ice sheets in the world. It is 80 miles wide and covers an area the size of Great Britain.

Ice loss at the Thwaites glacier currently accounts for roughly 4% of all global sea-level rise.

Q: What is happening to it?

The Thwaites glacier is melting fast. Now, scientists have discovered giant cracks and fissures in the ice. They fear that within the next five to ten years, the floating ice shelf at the front of the glacier could "shatter like a windscreen".

Ice loss in the Arctic barely affects sea levels because most ice forms at sea. But in Antarctica, most ice is on the land. If the front shelf of the Thwaites glacier collapses and the entire ice sheet melts, it could raise the height of the ocean by 65cm.

Q: Why is the glacier melting?

Warm water underneath the Doomsday glacier's floating ice shelf is causing the ice to thin. In February 2020, water temperatures of more than 2C above freezing were recorded at the glacier for the first time.

Ultimately, the sea is warming up due to climate change. "That's why cutting carbon emissions right now, today, tomorrow, this decade is so important," says climate author Jeff GoodellGoodell is an American author and journalist. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council .

"The Thwaites glacier is like a big flashing light saying 'move faster, move faster'."

Q: Does it really matter if the ice melts?

Yes! Since 1900, global sea levels have risen by 20cm. Already, coastal communities are suffering as the sea eats away at the land. A further 65cm could be devastating for millions.

But the ice in the Doomsday glacier itself is not the only problem. The Thwaites glacier acts like a cork, holding back many other glaciers in the southern ocean. If it melts, it could cause a chain reaction. The sea could rise by as much as three metres. Major cities like New York, Shanghai and Mumbai would flood. And low-lying islands would be completely swamped.

Q: How are scientists investigating?

Ice loss can be unpredictable. For some, Antarctica is as mysterious as the deep sea or space. Scientists think the key to understanding the Thwaites glacier is data.

The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration is a five year research project by British and American scientists. Each Antarctic summer, they use satellites, boats and ships to investigate the glacier's behaviour.

This year, submarine Boaty McBoatfaceIn 2016, the name Boaty McBoatface won a public poll to name a new polar research ship. The ship was eventually named Sir David Attenborough, but a submarine onboard was named Boaty McBoatface.  is diving underneath the glacier to collect data on water temperature, current direction and turbulence. "It's scary," says one researcher. "We might not get Boaty back."

Q: Can it be stopped?

Scientists cannot repair the ice that has already melted. But some researchers have radical ideas to prevent more ice collapsing. They include reflective sheets, artificial islands that could support ice shelves and even "seabed anchored curtains" - flexible sheets that could redirect warm water. But none of these solutions are easy. The financial, legalSomething that is legal is allowed by the law. and logistical challenges are huge.