Abu dhabi: The Hektoria Glacier on the eastern Antarctic Peninsula retreated at the fastest pace recorded in modern history in 2022, according to research published on Monday. Nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated over two months, a team of researchers found after analysing geophysical data and satellite imagery over time.
According to Emirates News Agency, Hektoria retreated by about 25 kilometres between January 2022 and March 2023. The retreat included about 8 kilometres lost between November and December 2022. The team, led by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, attributed the rapid retreat to the glacier’s underlying flat bedrock, which enabled the glacier to go afloat after it substantially and rapidly thinned, causing it to calve quickly.
“When we flew over Hektoria in early 2024, I couldn’t believe the vastness of the area that had collapsed,” said lead author Naomi Ochwat. She highlighted the importance of using satellite data at different time intervals to detect how quickly the retreat happened.
Team member Ted Scambos expressed concern over the findings, stating that the glacier’s retreat “is a bit of a shock – this kind of lightning-fast retreat really changes what’s possible for other, larger glaciers on the continent.” Scambos warned that if similar conditions occur in other areas, it could greatly accelerate sea level rise from the continent.