Science Kids Antarctica and the Melting Ice Shelf V1-0002 The melting of the Thwaites Glacier, driven by human-caused global warming, is contributing to rising sea levels. If the entire glacier were to melt, it could result in a two-foot rise in sea levels, impacting coastal communities and potentially submerging low-lying areas like small island nations. This melting is part of a larger trend of ice loss due to warmer temperatures, posing significant risks to human settlements and ecosystems worldwide.