The Hektoria Glacier on the eastern Antarctic Peninsula retreated at the fastest pace recorded in modern history in 2022.

Nearly 50 per cent of the glacier disintegrated over two months, a team of researchers found after analysing geophysical data and satellite imagery over time.

Hektoria retreated by about 25km between January 2022 and March 2023.

The retreat included about 8km lost between November and December 2022.

According to the team, led by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, the glacier's underlying flat bedrock enabled the glacier to go afloat after it substantially and rapidly thinned, causing it to calve quickly.

"When we flew over Hektoria in early 2024, I couldn't believe the vastness of the area that had collapsed," lead author Naomi Ochwat said.

"I ha

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