Doomsday Glacier: Why Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica Is Melting Faster Than Expected in 2026

Thwaites Glacier, often called the Doomsday Glacier, remains one of the biggest threats in the context of climate change and sea level rise.

Latest research from 2025–2026, including ongoing expeditions, confirms that the glacier’s disintegration in West Antarctica is accelerating faster than previous models predicted, with potentially devastating global consequences.

 

What Is Thwaites Glacier and Why Is It Called the Doomsday Glacier?

Thwaites Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in Antarctica, roughly the size of Great Britain or Florida (about 120 km wide). It acts as a critical “plug” holding back much of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

If the Thwaites Glacier fully collapses, it alone could raise global sea levels by approximately 65 cm (over 2 feet). A wider collapse of the ice sheet could add 3–5 meters in the long term.

Latest Findings: Fractures, Loss of Support, and Self-Sustaining Collapse

A December 2025 study (published in the Journal of Geophysical Research) based on two decades of satellite and GPS data shows the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf (TEIS) is rapidly losing its grip on a key underwater pinning point.

Large cracks are deepening and widening, causing the glacier to detach from seafloor ridges that previously slowed its flow into the ocean.

This process is becoming self-sustaining: faster ice movement creates more fractures, which in turn accelerate the flow. Researchers warn that this “protective system” is breaking down and similar patterns could spread to other Antarctic ice shelves.

 

New Threats in 2025–2026: Underwater Storms and Iceberg Earthquakes

Recent discoveries highlight additional dangers accelerating Antarctica melting:

• Underwater “storms”: Powerful currents of warm water are creating turbulent mixing under the glacier, intensely melting it from below (Scripps Institution research, November 2025).
• Iceberg earthquakes: Hundreds of seismic events from capsizing icebergs have been detected, signaling rapid fragmentation (studies from late 2025–early 2026).
• Ongoing expedition: In January 2026, the icebreaker Araon reached Thwaites for fieldwork, collecting real-time data on ocean currents, ice structure, and fracturing (International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration).

VIDEO. Onboard an expedition to study a massive, melting glacier in Antarctica

Global Consequences: Sea Level Rise and Risks for Coastal Areas

While immediate total collapse is unlikely, current changes raise the probability of major sea level rise in coming decades. This would impact millions in coastal cities worldwide, from Miami and New York to Shanghai and London.

Climate change and global warming are driving warmer ocean waters under Antarctic glaciers, making such scenarios more probable. Scientists stress the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow these processes.

Conclusion: Why We Must Monitor the Doomsday Glacier Closely

The Doomsday Glacier is a key indicator of Antarctica’s future. 2025–2026 updates show the situation is worsening faster than anticipated.

Continued monitoring of Thwaites Glacier and Antarctica melting is essential for accurate sea level rise predictions and climate adaptation.