Antarctica's Underwater Tsunamis and Doomsday Glacier Impact on Climate | Quick Digest
Scientists have discovered that 'underwater tsunamis' generated by glacier calving and submarine landslides in Antarctica are significantly impacting ocean mixing and could accelerate ice melt. These events, particularly near the 'Doomsday Glacier,' have global implications for sea levels and climate.
Underwater tsunamis in Antarctica are real, caused by glacier calving and submarine landslides.
These tsunamis affect ocean mixing, potentially bringing warmer water upwards to accelerate ice melt.
Research highlights ancient tsunamis from Antarctica during past warm periods, raising concerns for the future.
The 'Doomsday Glacier' (Thwaites Glacier) is experiencing significant seismic activity and destabilization.
Climate change is identified as a primary driver for these phenomena and their increasing frequency.
Potential global impacts include accelerated sea-level rise and threats to Southern Hemisphere coastlines.
Scientists are actively studying a significant phenomenon in Antarctica: 'underwater tsunamis' that are influencing global climate patterns. These events manifest in two primary ways: 'internal tsunamis' generated by massive glacier calving events, where large chunks of ice break off and enter the ocean, and tsunamis triggered by submarine landslides. Recent observations by teams like the British Antarctic Survey have directly witnessed glacier disintegration causing these internal waves, which are powerful enough to mix different layers of ocean water.
This mixing is crucial because it can bring warmer, saltier water from deeper ocean layers closer to the surface, potentially accelerating the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, including the critically important Thwaites Glacier, often dubbed the 'Doomsday Glacier.' The destabilization of the Thwaites Glacier is a major concern, as its complete collapse could lead to a significant rise in global sea levels. Beyond calving, a 2023 study published in Nature Communications warned that climate change could trigger gigantic tsunamis from Antarctica by causing underwater landslides, as evidenced by geological records from past warm periods millions of years ago. These ancient events sent massive tsunami waves racing towards shores in South America, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
The ongoing climate crisis, with its warmer ocean temperatures and shrinking ice sheets, is increasing the potential for such catastrophic events to reoccur. The research highlights an urgent need to better understand these climate-controlled submarine landslides and their potential to trigger tsunamis, as current computer models for Antarctic ocean mixing and sea-level rise may not fully account for these newly understood dynamics. The findings underscore Antarctica's profound global influence on future climate and sea levels.
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