Antarctic Expedition Tackles World's Fastest-Melting Glacier

An international team of nearly 40 scientists has reached Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier aboard the icebreaker Araon, commencing a crucial 12-day study. This ambitious campaign aims to investigate the glacier, which is as large as Florida and poses a significant threat of raising global sea levels by two feet if it melts completely.

The expedition is employing a multi-faceted approach, utilizing aerial radar systems to examine the ice's interior and deploying remote-controlled rigs into underwater rifts. A daring surface team will camp on the glacier for a month, attempting to drill a half-mile-deep hole to place instruments in the sub-glacial seawater, where warm currents are eroding the ice from below.

This research is critical as accelerated melting of Thwaites could destabilize the West Antarctic ice sheet, potentially leading to a 10 to 15-foot rise in sea levels over centuries. The expedition's success hinges on navigating challenging sea ice conditions and favorable weather for helicopter operations, with a tight deadline to complete the drilling project before the Araon must return to New Zealand around February 10.