Scientists are sounding the alarm as Thwaites Glacier—nicknamed the **“Doomsday Glacier”**—continues to melt at record-breaking speed, raising fears that it could unleash catastrophic sea level rise with devastating consequences for cities worldwide.
Located in West Antarctica, Thwaites is roughly the size of Great Britain and over 2 km thick in places. Its ice shelf, which acts like a massive cork holding back the Antarctic ice sheet, is already fracturing at fast rates. If it collapses, researchers warn, it could raise sea levels by about **65 cm (25 in)**—enough to flood major coastal cities. Reuters explains its immense power.
The warning goes beyond speculative: recent studies reveal Thwaites’ ice shelf may collapse within **years—not centuries**—and even a partial failure could trigger accelerated melting. That means unleashed waters could begin redrawing coastlines much sooner than expected. Newsweek’s analysis maps the threat.
“If Thwaites goes, expect 65 cm sea rise—New York, London and Bangkok are on the front line.”
Leading climate experts name **London**, **New York**, and **Bangkok** among the top three global cities at risk of being chronically flooded—or even submerged—if the glacier collapses. Each city has large low-lying areas that would see permanent inundation. UNILAD highlighted all three cities.
Bangkok is especially vulnerable—it sits barely above sea level, and many residents already face daily flooding. Rising water from Thwaites could make storm surges more dangerous and force wide-scale evacuations. Meanwhile, London’s Thames and New York’s subway tunnels could be permanently flooded. Science Focus delved into the urban risks.
“This is not centuries away—it’s beginning now,” says Ted Scambos, glaciologist with the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. He warns that warming ocean currents are undercutting the ice shelf at faster rates than models predicted. Australia’s News.com.au reports, adding that this is a major tipping point.
“Three global cities are floating targets unless we act now—and Thwaites is the fuse.”
Thwaites is part of a larger network of vulnerable glaciers in West Antarctica; researchers warn if it collapses, it could destabilize adjacent glaciers and push sea level rise into the **meter-plus** range over centuries. Wikipedia outlines the chain reaction risk.
The world’s financial capitals are starting to budget for impact. London is reinforcing flood defenses along the Thames Barrier, New York is raising substation walls, and Bangkok is investing in coastal levees and pumps. But experts insist these measures might not be enough without drastic global emissions cuts. Scientific American details escalating melt rates.
Researchers are calling for urgent geoengineering efforts—like underwater barriers to slow seawater upwelling under Thwaites—or radically cutting carbon output to prevent further warming. But these measures are expensive, complex, and politically fraught. Columbia Climate School outlines options.
Even countries with strong flood infrastructure say they need a Plan B. Officials in the UK warn that with 65 cm of sea rise, about **20 million people in greater London** would be at risk from flooding events that are no longer just once-a-century. Wiki data shows global exposure stats.
In Southeast Asia, low-lying megacities like Bangkok already battle daily inundation—Thwaites-level rises would cripple coastal communities, disrupt logistics, and intensify saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies. Wiki again notes how millions in Asia face the impact.
Some glaciologists caution that projections are uncertain—if Thwaites retreats slowly, cities could adapt more gradually. But if it collapses abruptly, authorities might struggle to respond fast enough. Science Focus gives both scenarios.
This isn’t just long-term doom—it’s a real-time crisis. Antarctic sea ice is at record lows, Arctic glaciers are melting too, and every retreat signals rising oceans. That same Aussie article warns, “this year is different.”
World leaders face a stark choice: accelerate carbon cuts now, or invest billions in coastal defenses—but either path demands urgency. London, New York, and Bangkok might be first—but they won’t be the last. As global warming reaches these tipping points, entire coastlines are at stake—and millions may need to flee.
