A study has shown that the main reason for such rapid destruction lies in the flat rocky foundation on which the glacier is situated. As the thickness of the ice decreases, large sections of it detach from the bottom and rise to the ocean surface. In this state, the ice is subjected to strong oceanic forces, leading to the formation of cracks that connect with existing ones, triggering a chain reaction and massive calving of icebergs. Seismic sensors recorded a series of vibrations confirming the detachment of ice from the rocky foundation. Data from various satellites allowed for a detailed reconstruction of this process — on certain days, the glacier lost up to two and a half kilometers in just 48 hours.
Although the Hector Glacier covers an area of about 300 square kilometers, comparable to the territory of Philadelphia, scientists are concerned about the presence of similar flat foundations beneath other, much larger glaciers in Antarctica. If similar processes begin to occur there, the consequences for global sea levels could be much more serious than previously thought.
