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Scientists Shift Focus to Pine Island Glacier's Ice Loss

1/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Scientists aboard the icebreaker Araon shifted focus from Thwaites Glacier to Pine Island Glacier after persistent low clouds blocked helicopter landings.
Pine Island has shed more ice than Thwaites over the past 50 years.
Won Sang Lee, chief scientist, noted the challenges of accessing the inlet formed by a massive ice section that broke off Pine Island and the risks from drifting icebergs.

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Story summary

Scientists aboard the icebreaker Araon shifted focus from Thwaites Glacier to Pine Island Glacier after persistent low clouds blocked helicopter landings.
Pine Island has shed more ice than Thwaites over the past 50 years.
Won Sang Lee, chief scientist, noted the challenges of accessing the inlet formed by a massive ice section that broke off Pine Island and the risks from drifting icebergs.