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Scientists Brave 'Death Trap' Glacier Inlet
21 Jan
Summary
- Scientists entered a newly formed, perilous inlet of Pine Island Glacier.
- An expedition vessel navigated treacherous icebergs and narrow passages.
- Oceanographer deployed instruments to measure warming ocean currents.
An expedition vessel, the Araon, recently achieved a milestone by entering a newly formed inlet of Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. This treacherous passage, created when a large section of the glacier broke off between 2017 and 2020, presented significant risks due to narrow access and constant iceberg shedding.
Scientists described the inlet as a potential 'death trap,' with navigational hazards including unmapped shallow areas and icebergs that could block the exit. Despite the dangers, geophysicist Sukyoung Yun emphasized the scientific value of exploring this previously inaccessible area.
During the expedition, oceanographer Pierre Dutrieux deployed an instrument to measure water temperature and salinity from the seafloor to the surface. This data is vital for understanding how warming ocean currents contribute to the accelerated melting and destabilization of the glacier, which is losing ice faster than Thwaites Glacier over the past half-century.
