They plant a camera in a glacier at the end of the world, and the results are startling.

In the past week, two studies have been published highlighting anxiety doomsday glacier. Also known as Thwaites or Doomsday Glacier, it is no coincidence that this mass of ice receives such catastrophic names. It is believed that if its ice melts too quickly, sea level rise could be fatal. Other glaciers disappeared and the consequences were not so serious, but with this the planet would be in danger.

So far it is known that it melts very fast. The main reason is obviously global warming. However, the mechanisms leading to its decrease are not exactly known. And it would be necessary to know them, as it would help to anticipate changes and take the best possible measures.

For this reason, the team UK and US scientists inserted the camera into the depths of a glacier at the end of the world. This allowed them to analyze the rate of ice melting and also take samples for analysis. Among the findings, there is some good news. But in general, most are bad. I hope that solutions will be found so that the name of the glacier does not become a reality.

Origin of the end of the world

Historically it was believed that the end of the world in Antarctica. Today we know that the Earth is not flat. Well, we should know with science in hand. So we can’t talk about the end of the world. It would be like looking for the end of a circle.

However, when the concept of the flatness of our planet became much more widespread, it was believed that this was all over. In particular, it was located in the Argentine city of Ushuaia. In fact, there is Lighthouse of San Juan de Salvamentobased on the novel by French Jules Verne called Lighthouse at the end of the world.

The glacier at the end of the world is in Antarctica; but it did not actually derive its name from the supposed geographic end of the planet. It is called so because if it disappears, as other glaciers in the world have already done, the Earth will be in serious danger. According to scientists, at the current rate, this could contribute to an increase in the next century 65 centimeters at sea level and it will endanger many coastal cities.

First steps that scare

So far, judging by what they say from Scientific Alertit is known that the point where the glacier at the end of the world connects with the ocean and the seabed 14 kilometers already filmed since 1990. In addition, the amount of ice flowing out of the region has almost doubled over the same time.

It’s about Glacier 130 km wide.. Losing ice too quickly can be disastrous, so it’s important to study it. And that’s the problem, because it’s not easy to know what’s going on there. For this reason, the authors of studies currently published in Nature decided to send an underwater robot called ice fin.

What is under the glacier at the end of the world?

Thanks to Icefin and well drilled in 2019, these scientists discovered several interesting facts. On the one hand, the flat relief under the glacier was melting. slower than expected. This is thanks to a layer of fresher water between the ice shelf floor and the warmer ocean below.

This is good news. However, it was also observed that hot water created some terraced structures. Unfortunately, both there and in the cracks, melting occurs faster than expected. This is very alarming, as it clearly indicates that hot water is penetrating into weaknesses of the glacier. We must not forget that global warming is causing a very alarming rise in ocean temperatures, and in these strategic locations it could be fatal.

It should be noted that the observations were nine month and that at that time the water near the earth became both warmer and saltier. However, the melting rate remained stable, between two and five meters per year. One of lime, the other of sand; although, however bad it may be, in this case it should worry us very much.

So far, to get even more information, Icefin has collected water from surface terraces and other glacier points at the world’s end. This will supplement the information necessary for the preparation mitigation strategy prevent further melting of the glacier. At this point, the situation will be more dangerous than any adventure in Jules Verne’s novels.