As climate scientists seek new ways to prevent rising sea levels, researchers suggest underwater structures may be an option to maintain underwater glaciers.
Scientists say the magnitudinal operation would be simple in design, involving erecting sand and rock barriers 300m in height, underwater.
Depending on the complexity of the model, the sand columns would have a 30 to 70 per cent chance of preventing the collapse of the west Antarctic ice sheet, including Thwaites Glacier, which has been identified as a source of rising sea levels - melting at a rate to raise global sea levels by 3 metres.