How quickly will Antarctica’s massive Thwaites Glacier melt, and what will that mean for global sea levels and coastal cities? Researchers are sailing toward Thwaites this month on the first leg of a five-year, international effort to try to answer that pressing question, and along the way they’re enlisting local seals as research assistants.
The World’s Carolyn Beeler is along for the ride and brings us the latest from the excursion.
Seal work done under permit number FCO UK No. 29/2018.
Related:
Antarctica Dispatch 3: The ship’s first encounters with icebergs
Antarctica Dispatch 2: Crossing the Drake Passage
Antarctica Dispatch 1: Gearing up and shipping out
What Thwaites Glacier can tell us about the future of West Antarctica
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!