The Cadman Glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula is rapidly melting due to warmer oceans.

Between November 2018 and May 2021, the glacier retreated eight kilometers because of an ice shelf collapse.

This collapse, caused by warmer ocean waters, has doubled the glacier's speed and increased ice discharge into the sea.

The glacier is in a state of substantial dynamic imbalance, losing about 20 meters of elevation per year and shedding 2.16 billion metric tons of ice into the ocean annually.

This collapse could signal a tipping point for glaciology, with other glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula potentially vulnerable to similar changes.

Researchers emphasize the need for comprehensive ocean observing networks to monitor the impact of warming oceans on glaciers and global sea level rise.