PBS News Hour - Full Show Why Earth's melting glaciers matter more than we think
Jan 24, 2026
Erin Pettit, glaciologist studying Greenland and Arctic ice dynamics, and Miles O’Brien, science correspondent reporting from Thwaites Glacier, discuss rapid polar ice loss. They describe on-site research at Thwaites, the risks of Antarctic ice collapse, changing Arctic sea ice and Greenland’s growing contribution to sea-level rise. The conversation highlights fieldwork challenges and why polar changes matter globally.
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Emotional First Encounter With Thwaites
- Miles O'Brien describes first seeing Thwaites Glacier from his ship and being moved to tears by its scale and beauty.
- He felt bittersweet because humans are driving the melting of such a majestic landscape.
Antarctica's Outsized Global Impact
- Antarctica holds about 90% of the world's ice and roughly 70% of its freshwater, so its melt would massively raise global sea levels.
- Complete Antarctic melt would represent nearly 200 feet of global sea level rise, underlining global consequences.
Thwaites As A Keystone For Sea Level
- Thwaites Glacier alone holds enough ice to raise sea level about two and a half feet and buttresses other shelves that could add ~10 feet.
- Its grounding on below-sea-level terrain makes it vulnerable to warm ocean water and potential cascade collapse.