A team of researchers have uncovered something shocking in Antarctica – large, complex, and previously unknown cracks that have formed in the coastline of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves. The cracks, which have been named “doomsday glacier” due to their implications on global sea level rise, are estimated to span more than 120 miles across the frozen continent.
The observation of the doomsday glacier began with satellite imagery of the area. From there, researchers utilized the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-1 satellite system to capture several images of the area, revealing an intricate network of crevasses, fissures, and cracks over the course of several months. The images were then analyzed, leading the team to confirm the evidence of the massive system of fractures.
These large, intricate cracks measure about 800 feet deep, up to a mile wide, and could possibly lead to the collapse of the glacier. If such a collapse were to occur, it would cause a massive influx of melting ice, leading to an immense sea-level rise all around the globe. Such a catastrophe would put coastal cities and communities in grave danger, as their shorelines would be susceptible to the rising oceans, leading to wide-spread drowning, displacement of citizens and other catastrophes that would follow.
The research team has immediately alerted United Nations officials and other relevant bodies, who are now trying to figure out how to prevent such a disaster, as well as to begin preparations in case such a peril were to occur.
For now, researchers are somewhat comforted by the fact that the doomsday glacier is located in a remote area of Antarctica, making the likelihood of it collapsing in the near future fairly low. However, the deep fissures that have been observed in the glacier are too large and extensive to ignore, and more research and steps should be taken to closely monitor the glacier’s condition, in case of a potential collapse.
