The Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica(Fig. 1) keeps glaciologists and climate scientists awake at night. The 120 kmwide glacier loses about 45 billion tonnes of ice each year, accounting for about 4% of global se...The Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica(Fig. 1) keeps glaciologists and climate scientists awake at night. The 120 kmwide glacier loses about 45 billion tonnes of ice each year, accounting for about 4% of global sea level rise [1]. If it melted completely, sea levels would climb 65 cm, and follow-on effects could lead to a 3 m increase [2]. But if some scientists' vision becomes reality, in 10–15 years construction crews will sail into the Amundsen Sea off Antarctica to begin building an 80 km long underwater curtain that will shield the glacier from the warm currents that are accelerating its decline [3].展开更多
文摘The Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica(Fig. 1) keeps glaciologists and climate scientists awake at night. The 120 kmwide glacier loses about 45 billion tonnes of ice each year, accounting for about 4% of global sea level rise [1]. If it melted completely, sea levels would climb 65 cm, and follow-on effects could lead to a 3 m increase [2]. But if some scientists' vision becomes reality, in 10–15 years construction crews will sail into the Amundsen Sea off Antarctica to begin building an 80 km long underwater curtain that will shield the glacier from the warm currents that are accelerating its decline [3].
