Thread by @weatherindia

Besides #GlobalWarming, another threat looms over the Thwaites glacier (aka #DoomsdayGlacier): Earth’s natural, internal heat. It has the potential to speed up the melting of this glacial mass! #ClimateChange

weather.com/en-IN/india/en…

(📸: Alfred-Wegener-Institut/Thomas Ronge)

Nestled at the heart of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, the Thwaites glacier is hailed as a global threat due to its size. Its area is equivalent to the Indian state of #Karnataka's i.e., almost 192,000 sq km.

If it melts, it could submerge several coastal areas around the world!

Scientists have long suspected that the Earth’s natural heat comes in touch with the surface of this region.

This is because West #Antarctica is stacked on a tectonic mass that's just 17 to 25 km thick! In comparison, the East side is as thick as 40 km.

Here's an RV Polarstern board helicopter taking the geophysical measurements with a towed magnetometer.

(📸: Alfred-Wegener-Institut/Thomas Ronge)

To add to the issue, the #DoomsdayGlacier lies at the heart of West Antarctica. This makes it more vulnerable to warm and salty ocean currents, which can accelerate the #IceMelt.

The aforementioned findings have helped humanity understand the other significant parameters leading to the melting of this glacier. With these, measures can be taken to ensure the doomsday remains restricted to the distant future.

#DoomsdayGlacier #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming