Accra:Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier is melting at an accelerated rate, with new research suggesting it could contribute about twice as much to global sea-level rise by the end of the century compared to earlier estimates.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the study published in Nature Communications indicates that warm ocean water is melting the glacier from below, significantly increasing the rate of its mass loss. Researchers now estimate that Thwaites could contribute up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) to global sea-level rise by 2100, a notable increase from prior projections of around 15 millimeters (0.6 inches).

Thwaites Glacier, often referred to as the Doomsday Glacier due to the severe implications of its potential collapse, spans approximately 192,000 square kilometers (74,000 square miles) in West Antarctica. It holds back a vast amount of inland ice as part of the larger West Antarctic Ice Sheet, alongside other glaciers such as Pine Island.

The glacier is currently responsible for about 4% of global sea-level rise and has lost over 1 trillion tons of ice since 2000. This loss continues at a rate of approximately 50 billion tons annually. Scientists have been monitoring Thwaites closely since the 1980s when its rapid retreat was first observed, with ocean warming driven by human-caused climate change identified as a significant factor.

The study highlights the glacier's 'grounding zone,' where ice begins to float on the ocean. Unlike previous models that treated this as a fixed boundary, the new research considers a wider area where tides influence the ice, allowing warm seawater to reach further beneath it. This 'tidal pumping' effect, as described by lead author Mattia Poinelli from UCLA, facilitates deeper penetration of warm water and more intense melting.

There is concern that Thwaites may lose contact with the underwater Mouginot Ridge, which currently helps stabilize it. Simulations suggest a 60% chance of detachment by 2100, potentially occurring as soon as the late 2030s. Such a development could hasten the glacier's retreat, posing increased risks of sea-level rise and flooding to coastal communities worldwide.