Hundreds of hidden earthquakes found at Antarctica’s Doomsday Glacier
Hundreds of previously overlooked seismic events have been detected beneath Antarctica, including 245 near the marine edge of the Thwaites Glacier. Many appear to be glacial earthquakes caused when huge icebergs break off, capsize, and collide with the glacier. The surge in activity coincided with a period when Thwaites was flowing faster toward the ocean, hinting that changing ocean conditions…
Glacial earthquakes, a unique type of seismic activity, have recently been discovered in abundance at Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier. These earthquakes occur when icebergs break off the glacier and fall into the ocean, creating violent clashes that generate seismic waves. Unlike typical seismic sources, glacial earthquakes do not produce high-frequency waves, making them difficult to detect.
Until now, only a handful of these quakes had been found in Antarctica. However, a new study has identified more than 360 glacial earthquakes at Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, with the majority occurring near the marine end of Thwaites Glacier. This finding suggests a potential link between ocean conditions and the stability of marine-terminating glaciers, which could significantly impact sea-level rise projections.
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