Thwaites Glacier (IMAGE) Rutgers University Caption The melting Thwaites Glacier in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, a climatic tipping element that global warming may have committed to an irreversible shift. Credit NASA Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.