Experts Warn 'Doomsday Glacier' Could Flood Cities Like New York And Miami Without Urgent Action

The rapid melting of the so-called 'Doomsday Glacier,' which could have catastrophic effects on cities like Miami, has led scientists to urgently advocate for action.

As climate change causes sea levels to rise and temperatures to soar, the severe implications are becoming even clearer with recent reports on the Thwaites Glacier.

Known as the Doomsday Glacier, this massive glacier has enough ice to raise sea levels by over two feet if it melts.

The Thwaites Glaicer acts as a 'cork' to the ice sheet Getty Stock Photo

But it’s not just Thwaites itself. Acting as a kind of stopper for the Antarctic ice sheet, its collapse could trigger a chain reaction, pushing sea levels up by as much as 10 feet.

This would wreak havoc on coastal communities around the world.

Back in September, the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration shared its research findings after studying the glacier since 2018.

They found that ice loss is not only ongoing but likely to accelerate within this century, to the point where the entire glacier might collapse within the next 200 years.

As Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist with the British Antarctic Survey and part of the ITGC team, pointed out: "Our findings indicate it is set to retreat further and faster."

These findings emerged shortly after scientists at the University of Chicago published a report outlining different strategies to mitigate sea level rise, urging for a ‘major initiative’ to identify and evaluate potential interventions.

The researchers highlighted two main categories of potential interventions.

One approach involves placing 'curtains' on the ocean floor to block warm water from reaching and melting the glacier.

Another idea is to try slowing down the currents that carry meltwater off the ice sheets.

Rising sea temperatures are a threat to glaciers Getty Stock Photo

Douglas MacAyeal, a professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago, explained: "From preliminary studies, the actual engineering required might be smaller than you might think. For example, the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica might require as little as 50 miles of seabed nets and curtains to make a difference."

While it may take years of further research to identify which, if any, methods would be most effective, MacAyeal added: "Our argument is that we should start funding this research now, so that we aren't making panicked decisions down the road when the water is already lapping at our ankles."

The scientists emphasized that such interventions would demand a global collaborative effort. 

They noted it would require the involvement of sociologists, humanists, ecologists, community leaders, scientific and engineering organizations, international treaty bodies, and many other stakeholders to shape and guide the research.