Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Tech/Science

Study Reveals East Antarctic Ice Sheet May Be on Verge of Rapid Melting

A recent study has revealed that the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, a massive ice sheet in East Antarctica, may be on the verge of rapid melting, potentially leading to a significant rise in global sea levels. The basin, which was previously considered stable, could raise sea levels by as much as 10 feet if it were to collapse.

Researchers utilized radar surveys conducted from aircraft to examine the ice beneath the sheet, uncovering concerning findings about the stability of the ice. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that small temperature increases beneath the sheet could trigger a collapse, leading to substantial ice melt.

Eliza Dawson, a doctoral student in geophysics at Stanford University and the first author of the study, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, ‘We’re looking at the temperature at the base of the ice sheet for the first time and how close it is to potentially melting.’

The Wilkes Subglacial Basin stretches 870 miles inland and contains ice that is 1.9 miles thick, with its base sitting below sea level. This positioning makes the glaciers susceptible to melting from warming seawater inflows, posing a significant risk of rapid ice loss.

While scientists had previously focused on studying the stability of West Antarctica’s ice, recent research has indicated that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has experienced significant melting and retreat during previous warming periods. This raises concerns about the potential for the vast ice sheet to undergo rapid melting in the future.

The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for further research and monitoring of East Antarctica’s ice sheets to better understand the potential impacts of climate change on global sea levels.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *