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weather4h ago
The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Flood the Earth. Can a 50-Mile Wall Stop It?
- Top researchers are testing a sea curtain idea to slow Thwaites Glacier by blocking warm water from reaching its base.
- Supporters say such targeted actions could buy time and protect coastal areas despite ongoing decarbonization challenges.
- Critics argue geoengineering risks are high and may distract from urgent fossil fuel reduction.
- Philanthropic funding is playing a growing role in supporting polar-geoengineering research.
- Alternative ideas include refreezing Thwaites to bedrock and thickening Arctic sea ice as potential measures.
- Exoplanant studies warn that natural decarbonization alone may not save Thwaites from collapse within a century.
- Experts debate legal and environmental implications, including potential breaches of the Antarctic Treaty.
- The curtain project is just one of several proposals under scrutiny by mainstream glaciology.
- UN climate discussions reflect rising temperatures and intensifying climate impacts, reinforcing the urgency of action.
- Researchers emphasize the need to balance innovation with caution to protect fragile polar ecosystems.
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