Underwater storms are melting Antarctica's key glaciers faster than expected
Quick, powerful underwater storms are speeding up the melt of the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, according to a new study.
These short-lived ocean events—think mini whirlpools under the ice—are causing more damage than scientists realized, and raise urgent questions about how quickly global seas could rise.
How researchers figured it out
Scientists tracked these underwater storms using ocean sensors and computer models.
They found that over nine months, about 20% of glacier melting was linked to these swirling currents that bring warm water right up against the ice.
Why this matters for our future
As the glaciers melt, they release freshwater that makes these underwater storms even stronger—a feedback loop that accelerates ice loss.
Since Thwaites alone could raise sea levels by nearly 10 feet if it collapses, researchers say we need better ocean monitoring to predict what's coming next.