Peter Sheehan

The eastern ice tongue of Thwaites Glacier is shown rising out of deep blue ocean waters.

Is Thwaites Glacier doomed? Scientists race against time to find out.

Environment

How quickly will Antarctica’s massive Thwaites Glacier melt, and what will that mean for global sea levels and coastal cities? Researchers recently spent several weeks studying Thwaites as part of a five-year, international effort to try to answer those pressing questions.

The front of the Nathaniel B. Palmer ship is shown at the bottom of the photo breaking through ice floes.

Antarctica Dispatch 9: Thoughts on climate change and returning home

The eastern ice tongue of Thwaites Glacier is shown rising out of deep blue ocean waters.

Antarctica Dispatch 6: First sight of Thwaites — mapping uncharted seafloor