Scientists Gather Key Data Under Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier

Scientists just achieved something remarkable beneath one of Earth's most dangerous glaciers, even though their mission didn't go exactly as planned.

A team from the British Antarctic Survey and Korea Polar Research Institute successfully drilled through 3,300 feet of ice at Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. They became the first to measure ocean conditions beneath the glacier's fast-moving trunk, collecting data that revealed turbulent, relatively warm waters melting the ice from below.

The expedition faced serious challenges from the start. The team used hot water to create an 11-inch-wide hole through the massive glacier, keeping it from refreezing long enough to lower their instruments. They temporarily deployed sensors that captured unprecedented measurements of the conditions driving ice loss.

When the researchers attempted to install a mooring system designed to transmit data for one to two years, the instruments became lodged about three-quarters of the way down. The borehole likely refroze or shifted due to the glacier's rapid movement. With their return ship scheduled to leave February 7 and weather conditions worsening, the team had to leave the equipment behind.

The Bright Side

This expedition marks real progress after years of setbacks. In 2022, the same team couldn't even reach the site because of severe sea ice conditions. This time, they not only arrived but successfully drilled through and gathered crucial data.

The measurements they captured will help scientists understand how warming ocean water threatens Thwaites Glacier. That knowledge is essential because the glacier could add 25 inches to global sea levels if it collapses, affecting low-lying cities and millions of people worldwide.

The data proves the team chose exactly the right location to study, despite the extreme conditions. Their success in reaching beneath the glacier and collecting measurements provides a blueprint for future missions.

Chief scientist Won Sang Lee of South Korea captured the team's determination perfectly: "This is not the end. The data show that this is exactly the right place to study, despite the challenges. What we have learned here strengthens the case for returning."

Every measurement brought back from beneath the ice brings humanity one step closer to understanding and addressing sea level rise.