Hundreds of hidden earthquakes found at Antarctica’s Doomsday Glacier
Researchers have identified hundreds of 'glacial earthquakes' occurring at Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier between 2010 and 2023. These seismic events are caused by large icebergs capsizing and colliding with the glacier, a phenomenon previously thought to be rare in the region.
Why it matters
Understanding these seismic events provides critical data on the stability of the 'Doomsday Glacier,' which is a major factor in global sea-level rise projections.
Glacial earthquakes are a special type of earthquake generated in cold, icy regions. First discovered in the northern hemisphere more than 20 years ago , these quakes occur when huge chunks of ice fall from glaciers into the sea.
Until now, only a very few have been found in the Antarctic. In a study published in Geophysical Research Letters , I present evidence for hundreds of these quakes in Antarctica between 2010 and 2023, mostly at the ocean end of the Thwaites Glacier - the so-called Doomsday Glacier that could send sea levels rising rapidly if it were to collapse.
A glacial earthquake is created when tall, thin icebergs fall off the end of a glacier into the ocean.
When these icebergs capsize , they clash violently with the "mother" glacier. The clash generates strong mechanical ground vibrations, or seismic waves, that propagate thousands of kilometres from the origin.
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