Title: BBC's 'Frozen Planet II': Antarctica Losing Ice Nine Times Faster Than Last Century
Antarctica's Ice Loss Accelerated
According to researchers, the Antarctic ice sheet is losing ice nine times faster than it was in the 1980s. Using satellite data, they estimate that Antarctica's ice loss increased from an average of 40 gigatons per year between 1979 and 1990 to 360 gigatons per year between 2002 and 2016.Contributors to Ice Loss
Two major factors are contributing to this ice loss:- Rising ocean temperatures: The Southern Ocean is warming, which is causing the glaciers around its edge to melt more rapidly.
- Pine Island and Thwaites Glaciers: These two glaciers were responsible for more than half of the increase in ice loss since the 1990s. They are both experiencing rapid acceleration due to a process called "ice cliff instability," where warm ocean water undercuts the glaciers, causing them to collapse.
The study's findings are alarming as they suggest that Antarctica is losing ice at a rate that could contribute to a significant rise in global sea levels. The researchers emphasize the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ice sheet.
Comments