The Earth Is Going Underwater. The Doomsday Glacier Has Begun to Melt Rapidly. What Awaits Us?

This assessment was voiced by Andrey Kiselev, a leading researcher at the A.I. Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory.

“Global warming is triggering the glacier’s melting, but at the same time there is a rise in the level of the World Ocean, which is also driven by the thermal expansion of water,” the expert explained. An increase in the temperature of the ocean’s upper layers leads to an expansion of their volume, further contributing to rising water levels.

According to the specialist, even a slight increase in sea level can cause flooding in coastal areas. In Russia, St. Petersburg is primarily at risk of flooding, Radio “Komsomolskaya Pravda” reports.

Among foreign regions exposed to risk, Andrey Kiselev highlighted the Netherlands and Venice, emphasizing their long-known vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

It is worth recalling that at the beginning of the year an international expedition was launched in Antarctica to conduct a detailed study of the Thwaites Glacier, whose size is comparable to that of the state of Florida. According to preliminary estimates, its complete disappearance could lead to a rise in the level of the World Ocean by 60 centimeters, and in the most critical scenario — by 3–5 meters, writes Vechernyaya Moskva.