The Global Extinction Glazier

What the World's Most Dangerous Ice Means for Our Future

By: Richard Murch

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

As you read this book, be very afraid of the consequences.


The Thwaites Glacier, often called the "Doomsday Glacier," is one of the most concerning features in Antarctica due to its sheer size and the instability that scientists have observed accelerating in recent decades. Located in West Antarctica, Thwaites is roughly the size of Florida and holds enough ice to raise global sea levels by approximately two feet on its own.

More alarmingly, it acts as a natural dam holding back a much larger portion of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, meaning its collapse could ultimately contribute to sea level rises of up to ten feet or more over centuries — enough to devastate coastal cities and communities around the world.

What makes Thwaites particularly dangerous is the process known as Marine Ice Sheet Instability. The glacier rests on bedrock that lies below sea level and slopes downward toward the interior, meaning that as warm ocean water eats away at the glacier's edges, it exposes deeper, thicker ice to further melting in a self-reinforcing feedback loop.

Recent research has revealed that warm water is already intruding beneath the glacier, eroding it from below at an alarming rate. Scientists have discovered cavities and fractures forming at the glacier's base, suggesting that melting is outpacing previous models and raising fears that a tipping point may be closer than once thought.

The broader consequences of Thwaites' destabilization extend far beyond the immediate threat of rising seas. Hundreds of millions of people live in low-lying coastal areas — from Bangladesh to Miami to Shanghai — that would face chronic flooding or permanent inundation if the glacier's collapse unfolds even partially over the coming centuries.

The economic costs of relocating populations, building sea walls, and losing coastal infrastructure would be staggering. Thwaites also serves as a stark reminder of how climate change can trigger irreversible processes in Earth's major systems, making it not just a regional concern but a symbol of the broader planetary risks posed by continued greenhouse gas emissions.