Thwaites Glacier linked to hundreds of rare ice quakes in Antarctica

A new study has identified hundreds of rare ice-related seismic events, or ‘ice quakes,’ occurring in Antarctica. Researchers recorded more than 360 such events between 2010 and 2023, with 245 concentrated near the ocean-facing end of the Thwaites Glacier.

These seismic events differ from tectonic earthquakes and are often triggered when thin icebergs break off, flip over, and strike the glacier. Because they lack the high-frequency signals typical of other seismic activity, they can be difficult to detect. The study noted a significant spike in these events near the Thwaites Glacier during the 2018–2020 period, which coincided with faster ice flow observed via satellite.

Thwaites Glacier, frequently referred to as the ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ is a critical area of study because its potential destabilization could raise global sea levels by approximately 10 feet (3 meters). Understanding these ice quakes may provide essential data on how shifting ice dynamics and ocean conditions influence future sea-level rise.