With reference to the Thwaites glacier, consider the following statements: 1. The glacier is located on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica. 2. The glacier covers an area of approximately 292,000 sq km. 3. There is a 20 percent chance of the glacier unpinning from the Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Thwaites glacier melting rapidly could add 1.2 inches to sea levels by 2100

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Climate change & international agreements· Prelims· 17 October 2026

Cryosphere dynamics and sea-level rise: a key GS3 Environment and Ecology topic.

Why in news

Researchers from the University of California and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory published findings in Nature Communications showing the Thwaites glacier is melting rapidly due to warm seawater melting its core.

Background

The Thwaites glacier, located on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica, covers approximately 192,000 sq km. The study indicates a 60 percent chance of the glacier unpinning from the Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century.

Facts for Prelims

PlaceThwaites glacier is located on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica
FactThwaites glacier melting could add 1.2 inches (30mm) to sea levels by 2100
FactThere is a 60 percent chance of the glacier unpinning from the Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century
FactThwaites glacier covers an area of approximately 192,000 sq km

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Thwaites glacier, consider the following statements:

The glacier is located on the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica.
The glacier covers an area of approximately 292,000 sq km.
There is a 20 percent chance of the glacier unpinning from the Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (a) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The glacier covers approximately 192,000 sq km. Statement 3 is incorrect: There is a 60 percent chance of the glacier unpinning.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the implications of accelerated polar icemelt on global sea levels and the associated risks to coastal infrastructure and biodiversity.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Feedback loops: Warm seawater infiltration into the glacier core accelerating ice mass loss regardless of immediate global warming trends
Geopolitical risk: Rising sea levels threatening low-lying coastal nations and necessitating large-scale adaptation strategies

Keywords: cryosphere · sea-level rise · glaciology · climate feedback · Antarctic ice sheet

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: Al Jazeera ↗Also: GS1 · Physical geography (landforms, oceans, climate)

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