Thwaites glacier in Antarctica is not as vulnerable as feared

The loss of a floating ice shelf at the front of Thwaites glacier in Antarctica won’t significantly speed up the glacier’s flow into the sea, according to a modelling study. This contradicts earlier predictions that the imminent break-up of the ice shelf would lead to a quicker rise in sea level, although scientists still fear this “doomsday glacier” will eventually collapse.

Formed where glaciers slide into the ocean, ice shelves often butt up against “pinning points” like bays, islands or underwater ridges, …