Study Documents Hundreds of Previously Unknown Seismic Events at Thwaites Glacier

By ivagreene // 2026-09-03

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A study published in Geophysical Research Letters on Aug. 29, 2026, reported the detection of 362 glacial seismic events in Antarctica between 2010 and 2023, according to ScienceDaily. The study’s author, Thanh-Son Pham of Australian National University, stated that two-thirds of the events, 245 of 362, occurred near the marine edge of Thwaites Glacier, which is also called the Doomsday Glacier. According to the study, these events are likely glacial earthquakes caused by capsizing icebergs. The most frequent period of activity at Thwaites, between 2018 and 2020, coincided with an independently confirmed acceleration in the flow of the glacier’s ice tongue toward the sea. The findings were distributed by The Conversation.

What are glacial earthquakes?

Glacial earthquakes are a special type of seismic event generated in cold regions, according to the study materials. They occur when tall, thin icebergs calve off glaciers into the ocean and, upon capsizing, collide violently with the parent glacier. This clash generates strong mechanical ground vibrations, or seismic waves, that can propagate thousands of kilometers from the origin point. These events are unique because they lack high-frequency seismic waves that are vital for detecting standard seismic sources such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Because of this, glacial earthquakes were only discovered relatively recently, despite other seismic sources being documented for decades. First identified in the Northern Hemisphere more than 20 years ago, most known events have been located near glacier fronts in Greenland, where the largest are comparable in size to nuclear tests. According to the report, these Greenland events occur more often in late summer.

Detection and findings

Pham explained that previous attempts to detect Antarctic glacial earthquakes relied on the worldwide network of seismic detectors. His new study instead used seismic stations located within Antarctica itself, according to the report. This approach allowed for the detection of lower-magnitude events that may have been previously overlooked by the global network. The search identified more than 360 glacier seismic events, most of which are not yet included in any earthquake catalog, the study stated. The events were detected in two clusters, near the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers. The report identifies these glaciers as the largest sources of sea-level rise from Antarctica. Ice losses from Thwaites Glacier specifically are currently responsible for roughly four percent of global sea-level rise [1]. While the Thwaites events are likely caused by capsizing icebergs, Pham noted that the second cluster near Pine Island Glacier presents a different case. These events were consistently located 60 to 80 kilometers inland from the waterfront, according to the study. Pham stated in the report that these events are not likely to have been caused by capsizing icebergs and remain puzzling, requiring follow-up research.

Thwaites activity and possible causes

The study found that the most prolific period for glacial earthquakes at Thwaites, from 2018 to 2020, coincided with a period of accelerated flow of the glacier’s ice tongue toward the sea. The report states that this ice-tongue speed-up period was independently confirmed by satellite observations. This finding suggests that the events may not be driven by the annual oscillation of warm air temperatures, which drives seasonal behavior at Greenland glaciers. Pham stated in the article that the ice-tongue speed-up “could have been caused by ocean conditions,” the effect of which is not yet well understood. He suggests the findings point to the impact of short-term ocean states on the stability of marine-terminating glaciers. This connection is worth further exploration to assess the glacier’s potential contribution to future sea-level rise, according to the study. The report also notes that scientists warn the ice shelf holding back Thwaites is eroding from below due to higher ocean temperatures [2].

Implications and next steps

The detection of glacial earthquakes associated with iceberg calving at Thwaites Glacier could help answer fundamental research questions, according to Pham. These include questions about the potential instability of the glacier due to the interaction of ocean, ice, and solid ground near the grounding line where the glacier meets the sea. Better understanding of these interactions may hold the key to resolving the uncertainty in projected sea-level rise over the next couple of centuries. Pham noted that an improved understanding of these processes could reduce “the current large uncertainty in projected sea-level rise over the next couple of centuries.” The research suggests that further exploration into the role of ocean conditions on glacier stability is warranted. The Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers together hold enough ice to contribute a meter of sea-level rise to the world’s oceans, according to one analysis [3].

References

NaturalNews.com. "High geothermal heat beneath West Antarctica glacier responsible for its melting". NaturalNews.com. August 27, 2021.
ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Antarcticas Doomsday Glacier Could Shatter Wi". ChildrensHealthDefense.org.
Flannery Tim F Tim Fridtjof 1956- author. "Atmosphere of hope searching for solutions to the climate crisis".

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