Ankara: An Antarctic glacier lost nearly half its length in just two months, marking the fastest retreat ever recorded, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience. Researchers have observed that the Hektoria Glacier, situated on the eastern Antarctic Peninsula, retreated approximately 8.2 kilometers (5 miles) between November and December 2022.

According to Anadolu Agency, the glacier experienced a total loss of nearly 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from January 2022 to March 2023. Contrary to previous assumptions that linked glacier retreat to ocean or atmospheric warming, scientists have identified the primary cause as a rapid collapse due to ice plain calving. This process occurs when ice breaks away from a flat, weakly grounded section of the glacier.

The study's findings indicate that glaciers positioned on ice plains may be significantly more unstable than previously thought. Researchers have cautioned that similar conditions could pose a threat to other Antarctic glaciers, potentially leading to sudden collapses with significant implications for global sea levels.