Greek islands face threat from rapidly melting glacier
Scientists report that the Greek islands may soon be submerged under water. The cause of this alarming phenomenon is the "Doomsday Glacier," whose rapid melting, driven by climate warming, is contributing to a significant rise in water levels.
3:13 PM EDT, November 1, 2024
The "Doomsday Glacier" refers to the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. Unlike ordinary ice, Thwaites is an enormous, partially submerged ice sheet that has significantly impacted global sea levels, including those in the Mediterranean Sea. Climate changes, particularly atmospheric warming, have caused the glacier to enter a phase of self-sustaining collapse.
Scientists indicate that by 2025, the last fragment of its eastern ice shelf, although small, is expected to collapse. As reported by "Scientific American," its significance cannot be underestimated. It currently serves as a kind of plug, protecting the remaining ice sheet from direct contact with the ocean.
If Thwaites fully breaks apart, it could result in a significant amount of the ice sheet sliding into ocean waters. Such a drastic change could raise sea levels by as much as 10 feet, which would have catastrophic consequences for coastal ecosystems and human settlements worldwide.
We were hoping it would take a 100, 500 years to lose that ice. A big concern right now is if it happens much faster than that, said Christine Dow from the University of Waterloo.
Will Greece find itself underwater?
As a result of the "Doomsday Glacier" breaking apart, there is a serious risk that many coastal areas could disappear. Researchers point out that one of the most threatened countries is Greece, which has found itself in the "red zone" due to the high risk of rising sea levels. Over the last 30 years, the country has irretrievably lost about 97 square miles of its beaches, an alarming signal of the impact of climate change on local ecosystems and economies.
Costas Synolakis, an expert on the impact of natural disasters, warned that Greece will need to take further measures to prepare for the submersion of even larger parts of its coastline.
By 2050 even, when the sea level is estimated to rise an additional 20 to 30 centimeters (7.8 to 11.8 inches), the coastline at some beaches will recede by as much as 30 meters (98.5 ft), depending on the incline of the land noted Costas Synolakis in an interview with ERT station.
