‘Time to act’, says British Antarctic Survey polar oceonographer Dr Peter Davis following study of Thwaites Glacier

British Antarctic Survey scientist Dr Peter Davis has been named in the 2023 TIME100, TIME magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

TIME100, now in its 20th year, recognises the impact, innovation, and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.

As part of the US-UK International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, a team of scientists and engineers used hot water drilling to create a 600m deep borehole 2km from the Thwaites Glacier grounding line. They then deployed sensors including a slim undersea autonomous robot called Icefin through the hole to survey this highly inaccessible area.

The Thwaites Glacier is roughly the size of Great Britain or Florida (192,000km2) and is particularly susceptible to climate and ocean changes.

They found that although the ocean near the grounding line was very warm and salty, the melt rate across the ice base averaged 2-5m per year - less than previously modelled. However, data from Icefin also revealed the base of ice shelf is covered in crevasses and stair-like patterns (terraces), which are melting more rapidly, in some places nearly 10 times faster. As water funnels through these irregular shapes, the heat can be transferred into the ice more rapidly, widening the crevasses and rifts further.

The total collapse of the glacier would contribute an additional 65cm to sea-level rise, whilst also destabilising surrounding snow and ice.

Dr Peter Davis said: “Our research showed that it doesn’t take much to push a huge Antarctic glacier out of equilibrium - and that has real consequences for all of us, no matter where we live on this planet. It’s not too late to do good: there’s still time to make a difference by cutting carbon emissions and moving to a greener economy. We’re honoured that our work has been included in the TIME100, and I hope this is a sign of the appetite of the global community to take action.”