A new pair of studies reveals one possible—even likely—pathway for which sea level rise might play out on Earth, and flood our coastal cities. One study involves the Thwaites Glacier, the widest glacier in the world. Researchers have already determined that the Thwaites Glacier is melting at dangerous levels, and the new study reveals the severity of the problem.

The second study found that Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheet will raise global sea levels by at least 10.6 inches, more than twice as fast as experts previously thought.

Sarah Pralle, associate professor of political science and expert on environmental politics and policy, climate change and energy, says that the new studies suggest "that our previous models of climate change impacts have likely underestimated the scale and timeline of major climate disasters such as sea level rise."

"Policymakers and political leaders need to take note and intensify and speed up their responses to the climate threat, to give us the best possible chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change," Pralle argues.

Read more in the Salon article, "Glaciers and 'zombie ice': The planet is melting at both ends, research finds."