Antarctica Is Releasing Mercury Faster Than Ever Because of Melting Ice - ZME Science

The world’s largest glacier is melting much faster and could add twice as much to global sea levels as previously expected over the next century. New research published this week by a team of glaciologists has found that the Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica is losing mass rapidly because warm seawater is pushing underneath it and melting its core. This could add 1.2 inches (30mm) to water levels even if global warming does not accelerate as predicted. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4The Nepal floods question: When the Himalayas collapse, who gets warned?list 2 of 4India to supply Nepal electricity after floods wrecked hydropower projectslist 3 of 4El Nino reaches super status: Where will it bring rain, drought and heat?list 4 of 4‘The drought has left its mark’: Slovenia’s potato lovers lament low yieldsend of listThe findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, add to a growing body of evidence that shows that the glacier, which has been receding for decades, is now losing mass even faster than scientists thought. Researchers at the University of California in the United States collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the study.

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Published: October 15, 2026 at 12:18p.m. EDTThe planet’s widest glacier is melting “more aggressively” than previously projected, meaning its impacts on global sea level rise could be double current estimates, according to new research by a team of glaciologists. Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica — nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier because of the catastrophe its collapse would trigger — is a huge wildcard when it comes to forecasting global sea level rise. The Florida-sized glacier, which lies in one of the least accessible places on Earth, has been retreating for decades and its melting ice currently contributes around four per cent to global sea level rise. But the mechanisms behind its retreat are exceptionally complex, making it tricky to precisely map out its future. It’s a vital task, however, as Thwaites holds enough water to raise sea levels by more than two feet if it were to collapse. Because it also acts as a cork holding back the vast Antarctic ice sheet, it could ultimately lead to around 10 feet of sea level rise, devastating coastal communities from Miami to Manila.

ScienceGlaciers in Switzerland lost 5.5 per cent of their ice volume this year, the second-biggest percentage drop on record. It's part of a trend that could have big impacts in a country reliant on hydropower and which acts as the 'water tower of Europe,' feeding its major rivers. Water lost so far this year is 4 times Switzerland's annual consumptionThomson Reuters · Posted: Oct 01, 2026 11:24 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 1Listen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Tourists gather at the glacier-feed Oeschinensee lake near Kandersteg, Switzerland, on Aug. 4. The country's glacier-monitoring service says Switzerland lost the second-highest percentage of glacier ice on record this year. (Hernan Munoz/The Associated Press)Glaciers in Switzerland — the home to the most in the Alps — lost 5.5 per cent of their ice volume this year, the second-biggest percentage drop on record due to heat waves and low winter snowfall, experts report.