Scottish scientists from the University of Edinburgh have discovered that sea ice in Antarctica is melting twice as fast as it was 50 years ago. This mass of ice acts as a barrier that prevents continental Antarctic ice from flowing into the ocean. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature.
Drifting ice sheets cover 75% of the Antarctic coastline, covering an area equivalent to the size of Greenland.
Researchers used satellite images from a 50-year archive to track changes in the appearance of ice anchor points. These natural anchors form when part of a floating glacier attaches to a raised surface below, creating a visible protrusion.
Scientists found that from 1973 to 1989, the number of ice anchors decreased by 15%, from 1990 to 1999 the figure increased to 25%, and from 2000 to 2022 losses increased to 37%.
Researchers have warned that further thinning of ice shelves will cause continental ice sheets to slide into the ocean and raise sea levels.
Previous scientists I learnedMelting Antarctic ice is predicted to raise the level of the world’s oceans by three metres.
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.