International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration

What this project does 

The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) studies Antarctica’s most vulnerable and rapidly changing large glacier.

It investigates how West Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is changing, what controls its stability and how quickly it might retreat. 

Researchers use field observations, measurements of the ice and ocean, evidence of how it has changed over centuries and millennia and advanced modelling to improve predictions of its impact on global sea-level rise. 

Why this matters 

ITGC helps us to: 

• determine whether loss of Thwaites Glacier will occur over decades or centuries
• assess how its retreat will accelerate global sea-level rise
• improve knowledge of how ice, ocean, and climate processes interact in West Antarctica 
• provide robust data for climate models and sea-level forecasts used by scientists and policymakers worldwide 

Thwaites Glacier, sometimes referred to as the ‘Doomsday Glacier’, drains an area the size of Great Britain It already accounts for about 4% of global sea-level rise – a rate that has trebled since the mid-1990s. Its entire loss will eventually raise sea level by 65cm and lead to further ice loss from adjacent glaciers. Understanding its future is critical for planning and adapting to climate change. 

Who is involved 

ITGC is a joint UK–US programme funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).  

It is the largest UK–US Antarctic research collaboration in over 70 years. 

The programme brings together around 100 scientists from leading institutions in the UK, US, South Korea, Germany and Sweden.

What did this project discover

Over the past seven years, research on the glacier has unveiled a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Thwaites Glacier’s retreat has accelerated considerably over the past 30 years. Although a full disintegration is unlikely to occur in the next few decades, our findings indicate it is set to retreat further, and faster, through the 21st and 22nd centuries, and general disintegration of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet over this timeframe cannot be ruled out.

Further research is urgently needed to refine this timeline.

Immediate and sustained climate change mitigation (decarbonisation) offers the best hope of delaying this ice loss and avoiding initiation of similar unstable retreat in marine-based sectors of East Antarctica.

Read the findings of the ITGC report.

1. Grim outlook for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

   New science briefing summarises results of the ambitious international collaboration to study Antarctica’s most worrying glacier 

   Read more of: Grim outlook for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

   

2. Mysterious patterns revealed on ice shelf bottom

   An international research team deployed the uncrewed submersible ‘Ran’ underneath 350 m thick ice. They got back the very first detailed maps covering extensive areas of the underside of a glacier, revealing clues to future sea level rise.

   Read more of: Mysterious patterns revealed on ice shelf bottom

   

3. New field season on Thwaites Glacier underway

   Thirty seven scientists and over 24 support staff are arriving in Antarctica to work on Thwaites Glacier.

   Read more of: New field season on Thwaites Glacier underway

   

4. New ‘live lessons’ offer interactive learning for kids

   Antarctica Live Lessons – a new and exciting learning resource, launches today (13 November). Aimed at engaging and inspiring the imaginations of young learners, the platform introduces an array of live, interactive lessons about Antarctica, offering a unique opportunity for students to hear from leading ice experts.

   Read more of: New ‘live lessons’ offer interactive learning for kids

   

5. 2023-2024 field season begins for British Antarctic Survey

   The Antarctic field season has started, with over 600 people beginning the journey South to work on over 60 projects on station and in the field.

   Read more of: 2023-2024 field season begins for British Antarctic Survey

   

6. Rocks beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet reveal surprising past

   The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is shrinking, with many glaciers across the region retreating and melting at an alarming rate. However, this was not always the case according to new […]

   Read more of: Rocks beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet reveal surprising past

   

7. British Antarctic Survey completes Antarctic field season

   The 2022/23 Antarctic field season has ended, marking the conclusion of another successful year of scientific exploration in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. This field season, […]

   Read more of: British Antarctic Survey completes Antarctic field season

   

8. Scientists named on TIME100 list for Antarctic research

   Scientists Dr Peter Davis (British Antarctic Survey) and Dr Britney Schmidt (Cornell University) have been named in the 2023 TIME100 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the […]

   Read more of: Scientists named on TIME100 list for Antarctic research

   

9. New close-up view of melting beneath Thwaites Glacier

   The rapid retreat of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica appears to be driven by different processes under its floating ice shelf than researchers previously understood. Novel observations from where the […]

   Read more of: New close-up view of melting beneath Thwaites Glacier

   

10. Fieldwork starts on Thwaites Glacier

    Nearly 60 scientists and support staff are on their way to Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. It’s part of an ambitious international effort to understand the glacier and surrounding ocean […]

    Read more of: Fieldwork starts on Thwaites Glacier

    

11. Glaciers in the spotlight on BBC’s Our Frozen Planet

    How much water the mountain glaciers of the Himalayas contain and how the mighty Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica will contribute to global sea-level rise form part of the final […]

    Read more of: Glaciers in the spotlight on BBC’s Our Frozen Planet

    

12. BBC’s Frozen Planet II: science into television

    In 2011, Frozen Planet gave BBC viewers an unprecedented insight into life in the Poles. The final episode featured British Antarctic Survey (BAS) glaciologist Dr Andy Smith using explosives to […]

    Read more of: BBC’s Frozen Planet II: science into television

    

13. Seafloor images explain Thwaites Glacier retreat

    New high resolution images of the the seafloor in West Antarctica show past retreat of Thwaites Glacier. They reveal that at times in its past, retreat of the massive Thwaites […]

    Read more of: Seafloor images explain Thwaites Glacier retreat

    

14. The threat from Thwaites: the retreat of Antarctica’s riskiest glacier

    Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is retreating rapidly as a warming ocean slowly erases its ice from below, leading to a faster flow, more fracturing and a threat of collapse, according to […]

    Read more of: The threat from Thwaites: the retreat of Antarctica’s riskiest glacier

    

15. RRS Sir David Attenborough makes maiden voyage to Antarctica

    Britain’s new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, departs the UK this week for its maiden voyage to Antarctica. It will leave Harwich today (16 November), with 66 […]

    Read more of: RRS Sir David Attenborough makes maiden voyage to Antarctica

    

16. Universities Network: COP26 Images of Innovation Exhibition

    The Innovation Showcase explains how innovative science and technology is helping or, in future, could substantially help the goals of COP26 and of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enabling adaptation to climate change or informing action related to climate change.

    Read more of: Universities Network: COP26 Images of Innovation Exhibition

    

17. Underwater robot reveals how Thwaites Glacier is melting

    For the first time, researchers have collected data from underneath the remote Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica using an underwater robot.

    Read more of: Underwater robot reveals how Thwaites Glacier is melting

    

18. Deep channels link ocean to Antarctic glacier

    Newly discovered deep seabed channels beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica may be the pathway for warm ocean water to melt the underside of the ice.  Data from two research […]

    Read more of: Deep channels link ocean to Antarctic glacier

    

19. Plans for International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration in response to COVID-19

    The joint US/UK five-year programme to study the future contribution of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica to global sea-level rise – the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) – announces news […]

    Read more of: Plans for International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration in response to COVID-19

    

20. Scientists drill for first time on remote Antarctic Glacier

    Teams from the US and UK have successfully completed scientific fieldwork in one of the most remote and hostile areas of West Antarctica – coinciding with the 200th anniversary of […]

    Read more of: Scientists drill for first time on remote Antarctic Glacier

    

21. Scientists head to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

    Nearly 100 scientists and support staff depart this week (13 November 2019) for the most ambitious mission to date for Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. In the second year of […]

    Read more of: Scientists head to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

    

22. 2019/20 Antarctic field season begins

    Getting ready to go south

    Read more of: 2019/20 Antarctic field season begins

    

23. Seals to act as sentinels of remote Antarctic glacier

    Scientists will use two species of seals to investigate a huge glacier in West Antarctica that is at risk of collapse. A team of over 20 polar scientists from the […]

    Read more of: Seals to act as sentinels of remote Antarctic glacier

    

24. Essential cargo delivered for science on Thwaites Glacier

    The British Antractic Survey’s vessel RRS Ernest Shackleton teamed up with the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Protector to help scientists begin a five-year mission  to understand how West Antarctica […]

    Read more of: Essential cargo delivered for science on Thwaites Glacier

    

25. Ambitious UK-U.S. Antarctic research mission begins

    A team of UK and U.S. polar scientists are about to embark on one of the largest joint Antarctic missions for more than 70 years. It’s the first field season […]

    Read more of: Ambitious UK-U.S. Antarctic research mission begins

    

26. Joint UK-U.S. Antarctic programme to study future sea level rise

    A new UK-U.S. Antarctic research programme to improve the prediction of future sea-level rise is launched this week (Monday 30 April 2018) at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Cambridge. The £20 […]

    Read more of: Joint UK-U.S. Antarctic programme to study future sea level rise

    

1. Airborne science and technology

   Discover the UK’s national capability to support science from the air

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2. Hot Water Drilling

   Accessing below glaciers

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3. Instrument: Phase-sensitive radar (ApRES)

   Research teams use phase-sensitive radars for determining ice shelf basal melt rates. Data is used to enhance climate models.

   Read more of: Instrument: Phase-sensitive radar (ApRES)

   

4. Twin Otter aircraft

   The Twin Otter is a high-wing, twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft. They are used all over the world and are known for their rugged construction, reliability and short take-off and landing performance.

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5. Tractor train traverse system

   Our tractor train traverse system is an innovative way to support deep-field science across Antarctica.

   Read more of: Tractor train traverse system