There are numerous potential disasters linked to climate change that concern scientists, but some scenarios are severe enough that experts are continuously assessing their potential impact.

This week brought favorable news regarding one of these scenarios in Antarctica: New research has shown that the infamous “Doomsday glacier” may be more resilient than scientists previously believed.

The Thwaites Glacier, part of the huge West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is often referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier” due to its capacity to drastically increase sea levels, which could submerge low-lying coastal areas and displace millions of individuals.

Furthermore, scientists are monitoring numerous other significant climate threats. These include scenarios related to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Greenland ice sheet, both of which could profoundly alter life on Earth in the coming years, decades, or centuries.

Here’s the latest update:

‘Doomsday glacier’: Worst-case scenario seems less likely for now

The Thwaites Glacier has been a key focus for years as an indicator of climate change caused by humans.

One concerning scenario suggested that the glacier could contribute to a sea level rise of 50 feet. Such an outcome would submerge most of Florida, with only a small stretch of high ground remaining, while urban coastal areas would be underwater.

However, researchers now find that this extreme projection appears improbable—at least for now.

“Current findings indicate that this worst-case outcome is unlikely during the 21st century,” stated study lead author Mathieu Morlighem, a professor of earth sciences at Dartmouth University.

This encouraging news comes with important caveats. Researchers emphasize that the ongoing and accelerated melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica remains a critical issue.

“Unfortunately, Thwaites Glacier will continue to retreat, leading to the overall loss of much of the West Antarctic ice sheet, even if it’s at a slower pace than previously thought,” Morlighem remarked to YSL News via email. He noted that while rapid collapse was labeled as a “low likelihood” scenario in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, their findings suggest it is even less likely than we had considered.

Expect sea levels to rise by about 2 to 3 feet by the century’s end, with further increases anticipated as ice sheets keep melting, he explained to YSL News.

Greenland’s ice sheet: Mixed signals on the situation

Recent updates regarding Greenland’s troubling ice sheet reveal a mix of good and bad news.

Covering over 656,000 square miles, complete melting of this ice sheet could result in a global sea level rise of approximately 20 feet, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Concerns continue regarding Greenland, which loses around 270 billion tons of ice annually, contributing to rising sea levels, as reported by NASA. Earlier this year, studies indicated the ice sheet is melting at an accelerated rate than previously anticipated.

However, a study from last year suggested that this ice sheet might be more resistant to climate change than initial assessments indicated.

Essentially, that research found that if global temperatures can be kept in check after 2100, we might avoid—in fact, partially reverse—the disastrous ice sheet collapse and the resulting sea level rise. Bryn Hubbard, a glaciology professor at Aberystwyth University in Wales, stated this previously.

AMOC collapse: Ongoing studies on feared ‘Day After Tomorrow’ ocean current

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a critical system of ocean currents that transports warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, could face collapse by mid-century, and possibly even sooner, according to research released last year.

The AMOC became widely recognized in 2004, thanks to the scientifically inaccurate disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow,” which revolved around the shutdown of this ocean current.

If the AMOC were to collapse in reality, it could result in dramatic weather changes across the U.S., Europe, and other regions. Such an event might induce an ice age in Europe, cause sea levels to rise in cities like Boston and New York, and lead to more intense storms and hurricanes along the East Coast.

Another study suggests the AMOC could collapse by 2050, but this research is still in the early stages. An earlier publication this year indicated a future collapse is inevitable, though it did not provide a timeframe for when it might happen.