Experts have sounded alarms for years—but recent satellite data and emerging research reveal a chilling possibility: the so-called “Doomsday Glacier” might be breaking down far faster than anyone expected.
While the general public remains largely in the dark, scientists are quietly raising red flags. Are governments minimizing the threat to prevent widespread panic? If the Thwaites Glacier collapses, it won’t just mean rising seas—it could mean the disappearance of some of the world’s most iconic cities.
Known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” Thwaites holds enough ice to raise global sea levels by more than two feet if fully melted. More critically, it acts as a keystone stabilizer for the vast West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Should it give way, the resulting chain reaction could send sea levels soaring by as much as 10 feet—putting coastal megacities like New York, London, and Bangkok at severe risk of catastrophic flooding or complete inundation.
Despite decades of study, the glacier’s inner workings remain elusive. Recent discoveries, however, have uncovered a network of hidden lakes beneath its surface—features that may be accelerating its destabilization far beyond previous predictions.
Since 2018, the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) has been closely monitoring the region. Their latest findings warn of a potential tipping point: a full collapse of Thwaites could occur within the next two centuries if current trends continue.
Professor Noel Gourmelen, lead author of a pivotal study released in March 2025 and ITGC member, explained, “We suspected subglacial meltwater was influencing ocean-driven erosion, but observing the scale of lake drainage gave us unprecedented insight into how quickly the glacier is retreating.”
This drainage occurred in a highly vulnerable zone, effectively supercharging the glacier’s downward spiral into the sea.
Adding urgency to the matter, the Southern Hemisphere has experienced record-breaking temperatures in 2025—unusually warm conditions that worry climate scientists worldwide.
Dr. Alastair Graham from the University of South Florida told News.com.au, “If Thwaites collapses, global sea levels could rise by around 65 centimeters (25 inches). The current climate pattern is unlike anything we’ve seen before—it’s not a temporary anomaly but a fundamental shift.”
The fate of the Thwaites Glacier—one of the planet’s most precarious ice masses—illustrates the dire consequences of delayed climate action. With the power to reshape coastlines and displace millions, its potential collapse threatens to submerge major global cities and transform the world as we know it.
As researchers reveal new evidence of hidden meltwater lakes and rapid ice loss, one truth becomes undeniable: time is running out. Without swift and decisive global intervention, today’s scientific warnings could soon become tomorrow’s irreversible catastrophes.