Overview
- The paper documents a retreat of about 25 kilometers in roughly 15 months, including around 8 kilometers lost in November–December 2022.
- Satellite imagery, airborne surveys and seismic signals of “glacier earthquakes” were used to time the break-up and support that key sections had been grounded, implying direct sea level contribution.
- The rapid loss followed the early‑2022 breakup of fast ice that had buttressed glaciers in the bay, exposing Hektoria to ocean forces.
- Several glaciologists question whether the crucial section was already floating, underscoring uncertainties in bed topography and ice-thickness data and the need for targeted measurements.
- The authors warn that similar ice‑plain dynamics could destabilize larger Antarctic outlets such as Thwaites or Pine Island, making vulnerability mapping and monitoring a priority.