A Montana State University assistant research professor of civil engineering, Christopher Pierce, was recently featured in a New York Times article for his work using airborne radar to study the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica. Pierce, who earned his Ph.D. from MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering in 2024, is collaborating with three colleagues from the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.
The Jan. 27 article titled “Scanning Ice for Monster Cracks, on This World and Another” highlights how Pierce and his team are employing helicopter-mounted radar to examine the interior of Thwaites Glacier, which has been rapidly moving into the sea. According to The New York Times, this technology may help scientists understand how the glacier is breaking apart and its impact on rising global sea levels.
Pierce’s research also draws comparisons between Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier and Jupiter’s moon Europa. Thera Macula, a region on Europa with fractured ice over a liquid ocean, resembles what is observed at Thwaites Glacier. “If you look at satellite imagery of the western shelf of Thwaites, it’s pretty much the same,” Pierce told reporter Raymond Zhong of The New York Times.
He explained that findings from Antarctica might inform scientists about whether Europa could support life. The article reports that chaos terrains like those found on Europa could allow oxygen-bearing compounds to move from the surface into the ocean below. If these compounds mix with chemicals in Europa’s subsurface ocean, conditions needed to support life might develop.
Pierce also participated in a live video stream from Antarctica for middle and high school students on Feb. 10 through Pocket Lab; an archived version is available online with free registration required. On Feb. 12, PBS News Hour featured Pierce and his research.
Montana State University provides hands-on research opportunities and access to education as part of its mission as Montana’s land-grant institution based in Bozeman (https://www.montana.edu). The university operates four campuses and Extension offices across all counties in Montana (https://www.montana.edu) and emphasizes collaboration, stewardship, community engagement through teaching and outreach (https://www.montana.edu).
