Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Why scientists are so worried about this glacier

It’s at the heart of Antarctica and on the verge of collapse.

Sea level rise will be one of the most devastating consequences of climate change. 2.4 billion people live within 60 miles of oceans, so scientists are rushing to find out how high, and how quickly, seas will rise. Their estimates will largely depend on what they expect to happen in West Antarctica. The region contains enough ice to raise sea levels by 3 meters, and it’s melting faster each decade.

The key to West Antarctica’s future is the Thwaites glacier. The Florida-sized glacier extends deep into the heart of the Antarctica ice sheet. It could also be on the verge of a rapid collapse.

This episode of Vox Atlas explains what makes the Thwaites glacier so dangerous and what it could mean for future sea level rise.

You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. Subscribe for the latest.


See More:

More in Climate

Climate
The electric grid’s next power source might be sitting in your drivewayThe electric grid’s next power source might be sitting in your driveway
Climate

Batteries that could help drive the switch to renewable energy are already, well, driving.

By Matt Simon
Climate
The real reason your monthly gas bill keeps going upThe real reason your monthly gas bill keeps going up
Climate

Are we paying for infrastructure we won’t need?

By Carrie Klein
Climate
The surprising truth about loggingThe surprising truth about logging
Climate

The reality behind Trump’s push to log more public forests is weirdly complicated.

By Benji Jones
Climate
How climate science is sneakily getting funded under TrumpHow climate science is sneakily getting funded under Trump
Climate

Scientists are keeping their climate work alive by any other name.

By Kate Yoder, Ayurella Horn-Muller and 1 more
Climate
The Western US is already running out of water — and summer is still months awayThe Western US is already running out of water — and summer is still months away
Climate

Ski slopes are closed, sprinklers are banned, and more restrictions are still to come.

By Kiley Price
Future Perfect
How the Iran war came for elevator rides, street lights, and even butter chickenHow the Iran war came for elevator rides, street lights, and even butter chicken
Future Perfect

The world’s poorest countries are paying the price for a war they didn’t start.

By Bryan Walsh