Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica experienced hundreds of iceberg earthquakes

A study using seismic stations in Antarctica detected more than 360 glacier seismic events from 2010 to 2023, with about 245 located near the marine end of Thwaites (the Doomsday Glacier) and peak activity during a 2018–2020 speed-up of the glacier's ice tongue.

A recent study reprinted from The Conversation reports that seismic stations in Antarctica recorded over 360 glacier seismic events between 2010 and 2023. Most of these detections were clustered near the ocean end of Thwaites Glacier, often called the Doomsday Glacier, and are reported as likely glacial earthquakes caused by capsizing icebergs. The period of greatest activity, 2018–2020, coincided with an independently observed speed-up of the glacier's ice tongue. Key findings: - Seismic monitoring in Antarctica identified more than 360 glacier seismic events during 2010–2023. - About 245 of the events were located near the marine terminus of Thwaites Glacier and are likely linked to capsizing icebergs. - The most active period, 2018–2020, coincided with a satellite-confirmed acceleration of the glacier’s ice tongue. - A separate cluster near Pine Island Glacier was detected 60–80 km from the waterfront and remains unexplained. Summary: These detections add seismic evidence of iceberg calving at Thwaites and reported links between short-term ocean or flow conditions and glacier behavior. Undetermined at this time; the authors report that follow-up research is needed to clarify causes and what they imply for future sea-level projections.