Denman Glacier Has Already Lost Over 250 Billion Tons of Ice

The Denman Glacier is one of the largest and fastest-melting glaciers in East Antarctica and alone holds a potential sea level rise of 1.5 meters.

In nearly three decades, the 20-kilometer (12-mile) wide glacier has already retreated some five kilometers (nearly three miles) and lost over 250 billion tons of ice.

The deepest point on continental Earth has been identified under the glacier. This ice-filled canyon reaches 3.5km (11,500ft) below sea level. Only in the ocean are there deeper ones. The canyon (known as the Denman Trough) is mostly cut off from the sea due to all the glacial ice inside and atop of it.

Unlike other glaciers in Antarctica, Denman Glacier faces away from the ocean instead of towards it. This shape allows more warm ocean water to slide down to the glacier's foundation. If the point where the glacier floats on the sea - known as the grounding line - continues to retreat back to the Aurora Subglacial Basin, some 160 kilometers or 100 miles inland, a feedback loop created by the warm ocean water could send all of Denman Glacier's ice to the sea.

Australia’s icebreaking research vessel Nuyina is currently on location so scientists can study what