NASA mission aims to freeze glaciers in place to prevent catastrophic sea-level rise

NASA's $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, launching soon, will monitor Earth's glaciers and could support interventions to halt their disintegration, crucial for coastal regions.

Ross Andersen reports for The Atlantic.

In short:

• The NISAR satellite, a collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, will provide detailed images of the cryosphere every 12 days.
• Glaciologists are exploring technological interventions, such as freezing glaciers in place, to slow down ice loss and mitigate sea-level rise.
• The loss of the Thwaites Glacier could significantly impact global sea levels, posing a threat to coastal cities and low-lying areas worldwide.

Key quote:

"I’m not going to be satisfied simply documenting the demise of these environments that I care about."

— Brent Minchew, glaciologist at MIT

Why this matters:

Preventing glacier disintegration is vital to avoid dramatic sea-level rise that could displace millions and cause widespread ecological and economic damage. Interventions like those proposed offer potential solutions to manage this risk proactively.