Antarctica’s largest ice shelf, which supports numerous glaciers and regulates their flow into the ocean, is showing unexpected sensitivity to rising temperatures. According to Christina Hulbe, a glaciologist at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, the recent spike in ocean temperatures in the region could have significant impacts on the ice shelf. This highlights the ease with which environmental changes can occur in this critical region.
Despite previous beliefs that the Ross Ice Shelf would remain stable, recent observations suggest otherwise. This massive ice formation, equivalent in size to Spain, protrudes from the coastline and hovers over the waters south of New Zealand. If the Ross Ice Shelf were to retreat, it would create a gateway for warm ocean currents to accelerate the melting of the vulnerable West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is already experiencing significant ice loss from other glaciers.
The potential consequences of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melting completely are dire, with projections indicating a rise in sea levels that could submerge coastal cities like Miami, Newark, Charleston, and even the Bahamas. The urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on Antarctica’s ice shelves is underscored by these findings.
2024-04-23 04:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org