What is the nickname of Thwaites Glacier due to its potential sea-level rise?

Thwaites Glacier is nicknamed the “Doomsday Glacier” because its retreat could contribute substantially to future sea-level rise. It lies on Antarctica’s Walgreen Coast and flows into Pine Island Bay in the Amundsen Sea.

The nickname is tied to Thwaites’ position in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, where its bed lies below sea level and slopes inland. Those conditions make the glacier vulnerable to warm ocean water and potentially self-reinforcing retreat. Thwaites currently contributes about 4% of global sea-level rise.

The nickname is journalistic rather than an official scientific name. It became widely used after appearing in a 2017 Rolling Stone article, but some glaciologists criticize it as alarmist. “Doomsday Glacier” does not mean that collapse is imminent or that the entire glacier will suddenly disappear; major changes would unfold over decades to centuries. Thwaites is also often confused with the nearby Pine Island Glacier, another major source of concern in West Antarctica.