Warm water is sneaking underneath the Thwaites Glacier — and rapidly melting it
These incursions, driven by tides, could amplify the retreat of Antarctic ice
When Thwaites Glacier reaches the coastline, it lifts off the seafloor and forms a floating ice tongue (shown here). The rising tide lifts this floating ice, providing just enough lift that seawater can squeeze under the part of the glacier that normally rests on the seabed.
James Yungel, NASA ICE (CC