it goes for hundreds of miles, inland to west antarctica. so really the first thing to know is that it's enormous. it's about the size of florida or great britain. the second thing about thwates is that it seems to be unstable. that warmer waters around west antarctica in a region known as the onmonson sea, it's becoming unstable. the third thing is when thwates starts to enter a period of what glacierologists call collapse, it could reach sea levels of several feet. it's interconnected to a bunch of other glaciers in west antarctica, and it's almost like losing the back wall of a house. if thwates goes, everything might collapse. and in that scenario, which is very dire, which is not imminent, but is possible, we're talking somewhere like 10 or 11 feet of sea level rise. >> well, in fact, in your article, you talk a little bit about some of the worst-case scenarios if water levels go up 15 feet. for example, right here you say, in that scenario, the jefferson memorial and fenway park would be under water. and the google plex would become an

it goes for hundreds of miles inland to west antarctica. the first thing to know about thwaites is that it's enormous. it's about the size of florida or great britain. the second thing about thwaites is, it seems to be unstable. warmer waters around western antarctica in a region known as the sea. it is starting to pull back. and become unstable. the third thing is, when thwaites starts to enter a period of what geologists consider a collapse, it will run into other glaciers. if thwaites goes, everything might collapse. in that scenario, which is very dire, which is not imminent, but is possible, we're talking about 10,000 feet of sea level rise. >> in fact, in your article, you talk a little bit about the worst case scenarios if water level goes up 15 feet. in that scenario, the jefferson memorial and fenway park would be under water. outside the u.s., the damage would be incalculable. shanghai, lagos, mumbai, jakarta, all would flood or drown. >> this is a collaborative effort that will stretch really over the next four or five or six yea

from specific sectors of antarctica, some of which we knew very well, antarctic peninsular and west antarcticarctic sector facing the indian ocean, which has been losing mass. for decades. and this, as i understand it, is more than anybody previously suspected. it's more than has been reported. east antarctica isa has been reported. east antarctica is a bit more challenging to study, it's a big continent, most of the interior doesn't change that much. the changes are localised along the coastline and in a particular part of east antarctica which sits close to warm waters. why is it so serious? what could it mean for sea levels ? serious? what could it mean for sea levels? it means the sectors that are sort of awake in responding to climate change right now in antarctica, not just the climate change right now in antarctica, notjust the peninsular and west antarctica, the multiple mirror of sea level rise is potentially. and how soon? that is the big question, we don't know how soon but we are sort of waking up a sleeping giant and we can report from this data, but the giant is awake. is there a

this data and observations into models that can help us understand what's going to happen in west antarctica over the next few years, a lot of uncertainty when it comes to glaciers. lot of uncertainty to our future and how we for instance might change our behavior and change our carbon emissions. the question is, being that, you know, can the scientists who are racing to understand this glacier, can they give us more information so we can make better decisions on the future? >> we'd like to thank jon gertn gertner for being with us this morning. thank you so much, jon. >> thank you, appreciate it. >>> day 18 of partial government shutdown. here to tell us where we have margos from the hill. where are we? >> this is the first day that the house and senate are coming back into session and vice president pence and homeland secretary nielsen will meet with house republicans tonight. >> when it comes to the house republicans themselves, even the senate republicans, where are they as far as commitment to this shutdown and what what president trump says. >> some dissensions starting to break out. s

it goes for hundreds of miles inland to west antarctica. the first thing you must know about it glacier is it is enormous, about the size of florida or great britain. the second thing about thwaites is it seems to be unstable. warmer waters around western antarctica in a region known as sea, it is starting to pull back. starts to enter a period of what geologists runider a collapse, it will into other glaciers, and it is almost like losing the back wall of a house. if thwaites goes, everything might collapse. that scenario, which is very dire, which is not imminent, but is possible, we're talking about 10,000 feet of sea level rise. host: you talk about some of the worst case scenarios if the water goes up this many feet. in that scenario, the jefferson memorial and in way part will be underwater. outside the u.s., the damage would be incalculable. shanghai, lagos, mumbai, jakarta, all with floyd or drown. drown.d flood or guest: this involves many scientists who are all in different missions to go to this glacier. it is almost 1000 miles f

right away, but if we go past certain thresholds, we may be unleashing a destabilization of the west antarctica sheet, which could cause massive sealevel rise. we really want to hold that. sen. sanders: and what is the implication? what does the massive sealevel rise mean to coastal communities all over the world? dr. ekwurzel: most people live near the coast around the world. that means many of our cultural people, sites, many many places would be inundated. sen. sanders: it means communities where millions live would be underwater. and in terms of national security, it means mass migrations of people, does it not? dr. ekwurzel: lots of folks are looking at temporary migrations from extreme events. moving to other states, for example, in the united states, and between country migrations. they may be temporary, they may be long-term. people are on the move. creatures are on the move adapting to climate change. but it doesn't have to be that bad. if we roll out solutions now we get smart about adaptation, and we make sure it is equitable. >> in some ways this is as much a panel question as the r

west. it's tuesday, january 29th, 20 welcome to "cbs this morning." arctic weather threatens 200 million americans with the coldest temperatures in a quarter century. some cities in the midwest will be colder than antarcticall show you how officials are preparing for the dangerous conditions. >> the acting attorney general tells cbs news that robert mueller's russia investigation is close to being completed. see how that unexpected announcement could affect president trump. >> el chapo speaks out in court for the first time. why the accused mexican drug lord says he will not testify. and the dramatic moment he came face-to-face with the actor that plays him on the

unleashing some very dire consequences in antarctica, it may not happen right away, but if we go past a certain thresholds, we may be unleashing a destabilization of the westarctic ice sheet which could cause massive sea level rises so we really want to hold that. bernie: what does that massive sea level rise mean to coastal communities all over the world? brenda: most people live near the coast around the world and that means many of our cultural people woulds, have to many places would be direndated if that consequence happens. bernie: communities would be under water and in terms of national security issues, it means mass migrations of people, does it not? brenda: lots of folks are looking at temporary migration. you think the campfire, a hurricane you have a diaspora in , the country moving to other states for example in the united states and between countries migrations. they may be temporary, they may be long-term. creatures are on the move adapting to climate change. but it doesn't have to be that bad, if we roll out solutions now we get smart about adaptation, and we make sure it is equitable. >> in some ways this as -- is as much a panel question

west. it's tuesday, january 29th, 20 welcome to "cbs this morning." arctic weather threatens 200 million americans with the coldest temperatures in a quarter century. some cities in the midwest will be colder than antarctica. we'll show you how officials are preparing for the dangerous conditions. >> the acting attorney general tells cbs news that robert mueller's russia investigation is close to being completed. see how that unexpected announcement could affect president trump. >> el chapo speaks out in court for the first time. why the accused mexican drug lord says he will not testify. and the dramatic moment he came face-to-face with the actor that plays him on the small screen. plus, a look at the wild media night for the super bowl. and first on "cbs this morning," the premiere of toyota's super bowl ad, featuring a college football player who says she wants to be a role model. >> but we begin this morning with a look at today's eye opener, your world in 90 seconds. >> i'm not leaving the house. there's no reason to go outside. >> this is massive snow, out of nowhere. very, very cold. >> it's just dangerous. it's too dangerous to be outside. >> the midwest braces for a life threatening deep freeze.