Articles | Volume 16, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-397-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-397-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Feb 2022
Research article |
| 03 Feb 2022
| 03 Feb 2022
Weakening of the pinning point buttressing Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Karen E. Alley
Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Atsuhiro Muto
Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Martin Truffer
Geophysical Institute and Department of Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Ted A. Scambos
Earth Science and Observation Center, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Erin C. Pettit
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Cited
31 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Shear-margin melting causes stronger transient ice discharge than ice-stream melting in idealized simulations J. Feldmann et al. 10.5194/tc-16-1927-2022
- The influence of subglacial lake discharge on Thwaites Glacier ice-shelf melting and grounding-line retreat N. Gourmelen et al. 10.1038/s41467-025-57417-1
- Topography reconstruction and evolution analysis of outlet glacier using data from unmanned aerial vehicles in Antarctica G. Qiao et al. 10.1016/j.jag.2023.103186
- Hysteresis of idealized, instability-prone outlet glaciers in response to pinning-point buttressing variation J. Feldmann et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4011-2024
- Thwaites Glacier and the bed beneath A. Mackintosh 10.1038/s41561-022-01020-2
- What Determines the Shape of a Pine‐Island‐Like Ice Shelf? Y. Nakayama et al. 10.1029/2022GL101272
- Rapid retreat of Thwaites Glacier in the pre-satellite era A. Graham et al. 10.1038/s41561-022-01019-9
- Thwaites Glacier thins and retreats fastest where ice-shelf channels intersect its grounding zone A. Chartrand et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024
- DiluviumDEM: Enhanced accuracy in global coastal digital elevation models D. Dusseau et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113812
- Suppressed basal melting in the eastern Thwaites Glacier grounding zone P. Davis et al. 10.1038/s41586-022-05586-0
- Antarctica in 2025: Drivers of deep uncertainty in projected ice loss H. Fricker et al. 10.1126/science.adt9619
- A history-matching analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet since the Last Interglacial – Part 1: Ice sheet evolution B. Lecavalier & L. Tarasov 10.5194/tc-19-919-2025
- Glacimarine sediments from outer Drygalski Trough, sub-Antarctic South Georgia – evidence for extensive glaciation during the Last Glacial Maximum N. Lešić et al. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107657
- Monitoring Earth’s climate variables with satellite laser altimetry L. Magruder et al. 10.1038/s43017-023-00508-8
- Rift propagation signals the last act of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf despite low basal melt rates C. Wild et al. 10.1017/jog.2024.64
- Exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points D. Armstrong McKay et al. 10.1126/science.abn7950
- Widespread seawater intrusions beneath the grounded ice of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica E. Rignot et al. 10.1073/pnas.2404766121
- Rapid fragmentation of Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf D. Benn et al. 10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022
- Basal Melting, Roughness and Structural Integrity of Ice Shelves R. Larter 10.1029/2021GL097421
- The role of near-terminus conditions in the ice-flow speed of Upernavik Isstrøm in northwest Greenland K. Voss et al. 10.1017/aog.2023.76
- Climatology and surface impacts of atmospheric rivers on West Antarctica M. Maclennan et al. 10.5194/tc-17-865-2023
- Passage and removal of the Amundsen Gulf Ice Stream, NW Laurentide Ice Sheet, recorded by the glacial and sea level history of southern Banks Island, Arctic Canada J. Vaughan et al. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108880
- On the Shallowing of Antarctic Low-Level Temperature Inversions Projected by CESM-LE under RCP8.5 M. Ding et al. 10.1007/s13351-024-3146-6
- Brief communication: Rapid acceleration of the Brunt Ice Shelf after calving of iceberg A-81 O. Marsh et al. 10.5194/tc-18-705-2024
- Ocean variability beneath Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf driven by the Pine Island Bay Gyre strength T. Dotto et al. 10.1038/s41467-022-35499-5
- Limited Impact of Thwaites Ice Shelf on Future Ice Loss From Antarctica G. Gudmundsson et al. 10.1029/2023GL102880
- Propagating speedups during quiescence escalate to the 2020–2021 surge of Sít’ Kusá, southeast Alaska J. Liu et al. 10.1017/jog.2023.99
- The stability of present-day Antarctic grounding lines – Part 1: No indication of marine ice sheet instability in the current geometry E. Hill et al. 10.5194/tc-17-3739-2023
- Synchronous retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers in response to external forcings in the presatellite era R. Clark et al. 10.1073/pnas.2211711120
- Coupled ice–ocean interactions during future retreat of West Antarctic ice streams in the Amundsen Sea sector D. Bett et al. 10.5194/tc-18-2653-2024
- Giant cracks push imperilled Antarctic glacier closer to collapse A. Witze 10.1038/d41586-021-03758-y
30 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Shear-margin melting causes stronger transient ice discharge than ice-stream melting in idealized simulations J. Feldmann et al. 10.5194/tc-16-1927-2022
- The influence of subglacial lake discharge on Thwaites Glacier ice-shelf melting and grounding-line retreat N. Gourmelen et al. 10.1038/s41467-025-57417-1
- Topography reconstruction and evolution analysis of outlet glacier using data from unmanned aerial vehicles in Antarctica G. Qiao et al. 10.1016/j.jag.2023.103186
- Hysteresis of idealized, instability-prone outlet glaciers in response to pinning-point buttressing variation J. Feldmann et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4011-2024
- Thwaites Glacier and the bed beneath A. Mackintosh 10.1038/s41561-022-01020-2
- What Determines the Shape of a Pine‐Island‐Like Ice Shelf? Y. Nakayama et al. 10.1029/2022GL101272
- Rapid retreat of Thwaites Glacier in the pre-satellite era A. Graham et al. 10.1038/s41561-022-01019-9
- Thwaites Glacier thins and retreats fastest where ice-shelf channels intersect its grounding zone A. Chartrand et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024
- DiluviumDEM: Enhanced accuracy in global coastal digital elevation models D. Dusseau et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113812
- Suppressed basal melting in the eastern Thwaites Glacier grounding zone P. Davis et al. 10.1038/s41586-022-05586-0
- Antarctica in 2025: Drivers of deep uncertainty in projected ice loss H. Fricker et al. 10.1126/science.adt9619
- A history-matching analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet since the Last Interglacial – Part 1: Ice sheet evolution B. Lecavalier & L. Tarasov 10.5194/tc-19-919-2025
- Glacimarine sediments from outer Drygalski Trough, sub-Antarctic South Georgia – evidence for extensive glaciation during the Last Glacial Maximum N. Lešić et al. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107657
- Monitoring Earth’s climate variables with satellite laser altimetry L. Magruder et al. 10.1038/s43017-023-00508-8
- Rift propagation signals the last act of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf despite low basal melt rates C. Wild et al. 10.1017/jog.2024.64
- Exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points D. Armstrong McKay et al. 10.1126/science.abn7950
- Widespread seawater intrusions beneath the grounded ice of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica E. Rignot et al. 10.1073/pnas.2404766121
- Rapid fragmentation of Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf D. Benn et al. 10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022
- Basal Melting, Roughness and Structural Integrity of Ice Shelves R. Larter 10.1029/2021GL097421
- The role of near-terminus conditions in the ice-flow speed of Upernavik Isstrøm in northwest Greenland K. Voss et al. 10.1017/aog.2023.76
- Climatology and surface impacts of atmospheric rivers on West Antarctica M. Maclennan et al. 10.5194/tc-17-865-2023
- Passage and removal of the Amundsen Gulf Ice Stream, NW Laurentide Ice Sheet, recorded by the glacial and sea level history of southern Banks Island, Arctic Canada J. Vaughan et al. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108880
- On the Shallowing of Antarctic Low-Level Temperature Inversions Projected by CESM-LE under RCP8.5 M. Ding et al. 10.1007/s13351-024-3146-6
- Brief communication: Rapid acceleration of the Brunt Ice Shelf after calving of iceberg A-81 O. Marsh et al. 10.5194/tc-18-705-2024
- Ocean variability beneath Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf driven by the Pine Island Bay Gyre strength T. Dotto et al. 10.1038/s41467-022-35499-5
- Limited Impact of Thwaites Ice Shelf on Future Ice Loss From Antarctica G. Gudmundsson et al. 10.1029/2023GL102880
- Propagating speedups during quiescence escalate to the 2020–2021 surge of Sít’ Kusá, southeast Alaska J. Liu et al. 10.1017/jog.2023.99
- The stability of present-day Antarctic grounding lines – Part 1: No indication of marine ice sheet instability in the current geometry E. Hill et al. 10.5194/tc-17-3739-2023
- Synchronous retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers in response to external forcings in the presatellite era R. Clark et al. 10.1073/pnas.2211711120
- Coupled ice–ocean interactions during future retreat of West Antarctic ice streams in the Amundsen Sea sector D. Bett et al. 10.5194/tc-18-2653-2024
1 citations as recorded by crossref.
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 05 Jul 2025
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier has the potential to significantly raise Antarctica's contribution to global sea-level rise by the end of this century. Here, we use satellite measurements of surface elevation to show that its floating part is close to losing contact with an underwater ridge that currently acts to stabilize. We then use computer models of ice flow to simulate the predicted unpinning, which show that accelerated ice discharge into the ocean follows the breakup of the floating part.
Thwaites Glacier has the potential to significantly raise Antarctica's contribution to global...
