The study published in the journal Nature provides a closer view of the melting beneath the Thwaites Glacier, which is the size of Florida and one of the fastest-changing ice-ocean systems in Antarctica. The research shows that although melting has increased beneath the floating ice shelf, the present rate of melting is slower than many computer models currently estimate. However, new observations have determined that melting in cracks and crevasses where ice enters the ocean is happening much faster than expected.
Melting beneath the Floating Ice Shelf
The research indicates that the melting beneath the floating ice shelf, which is attached to the main glacier, is occurring at a slower rate than predicted by computer models. This suggests that the overall rate of melting may not be as severe as some projections have suggested.
Accelerated Melting in Cracks and Crevasses
Despite the slower-than-expected melting beneath the ice shelf, the study has revealed that melting is happening much faster than anticipated in the cracks and crevasses where the ice enters the ocean. This faster melting in these critical areas could still have significant implications for the stability and future behavior of the Thwaites Glacier.