Think South: Early Exploration and New Research in West Antarctica and the Thwaites “Doomsday” Glacier

The United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939-1941), also known as Richard Byrd’s Third Antarctic Expedition, is often left out of timelines and history books. While the expedition was cut short by World War II, it made compelling discoveries of huge swaths of the continent. Byrd was one of the most important figures of twentieth century exploration. Leilani Henry’s father, George W. Gibbs, Jr., participated as a crew member on one of the expedition ships, the USS Bear.

Gibbs became the first person of his race to step on Antarctica. The expedition had 125 men and 80 dogs. Fifty-nine of the men wintered-over for about one year. The lessons and insights of these explorers have contributed to a global understanding of the Earth and space.

Leilani Raashida Henry, is a facilitator, coach, artist, and public speaker. Her keynote presentations range from Rotary, global science conferences, the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda, and numerous educational institutions. A resident of Conifer, Colorado, she is author of The Call of Antarctica: Exploring and Protecting Earth’s Coldest Continent (Twenty-First Century Books, 2021)

The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration – Research on the World’s Riskiest Glacier

Our second presenter of the evening is Dr. Ted Scambos, Senior Research Scientist, University of Colorado Boulder

Thwaites Glacier, described as part of the “weak underbelly” of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is a subject of ongoing international study for its potential to rapidly elevate sea levels. In fact, the outsized danger Thwaites poses has led to some reporters calling it the “Doomsday Glacier,” although this nickname is controversial among scientists.

Hear from Ted Scambos who is currently leading research in the field studying the retreat and increasing outflow of the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, the widest glacier on Earth, as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (www.thwaitesglacier.org)

Dr. Scambos, a Fellow of The Explorers Club and resident of Lafayette, works at the Earth Science and Observation Center, a part of CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder. He has specialized in using satellite data of the polar ice caps to map these regions in new ways, and study the effects of climate change in Antarctica.