Scientist warns Doomsday Glacier melt could threaten St. Petersburg

Melting of Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, often referred to as the Doomsday Glacier, could lead to rising sea levels and flooding in coastal areas worldwide, including St. Petersburg, Andrey Kiselev, a Russian scientist, has warned.

Speaking on Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda, a senior researcher at the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory said, for St. Petersburg, a sea-level rise of 40–100 cm could pose a risk, Caliber.Az reports.

He noted that the city’s flood barrier could protect St. Petersburg itself, but surrounding areas would inevitably face flooding.

Other regions at risk include the Netherlands and Venice.

Kiselev added that if melting continues, the barrier would need to operate continuously rather than only occasionally, as it does now.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov