Huge Antarctica Glacier in Serious Trouble

A new study has revealed a spine-chilling development in Antarctica, with the potential to submerge cities such as Miami and New York during current lifetimes. The research suggests that a meltdown of a significant part of Antarctica, such as West Antarctica, could lead to a sea level rise of 200’. While this is unlikely to happen in the near future, the findings of this study are the first to officially conclude that such an event is probable in the near future. 

The effects of global warming are already being felt in Miami Beach, where persistent flooding has forced the city to raise streets by two feet. This is a stark reminder of the consequences of human-caused fossil fuel CO2 emissions. The research serves as a warning to the world that more must be done to tackle the global warming crisis.

A new study by Seongsu Jeong, Ian M. Howat, and Jeremy N. Basis has revealed a startling development in the Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that the glacier is in a state of rapid retreat due to the presence of a deep subsurface rift. 

This rift is believed to have been caused by a warming ocean, and could lead to a significant collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in our lifetimes. Ian Howat, associate professor of Earth Sciences at Ohio State University, has warned that this new mechanism for rapid glacier retreat could have a major impact on global warming. The bottom of the West Antarctica Ice Sheet lies below sea level, allowing warm ocean water to penetrate inland, making the situation even more concerning.

The ocean has been absorbing up to 90% of the Earth’s heat, protecting on-land creatures from overheating. However, this heat is now returning to the atmosphere in places such as Antarctica. Recent research has found that from two-thirds to 98 percent of the ocean heat gain between 2006 and 2013 was south of the equator, with some areas experiencing a rise in sea surface temperatures of nearly five times the global average. This increase in heat stored in the ocean means more will inevitably be released back into the atmosphere. 

Scientists have made a new discovery in Antarctica which is different to past research. A rift has been found 20 miles inland, which is unusual as rifts usually form at the margins of the ice shelves. Pine Island Glacier acts as a backstop, preventing partial collapse of the West Antarctica ice sheet. It is the last line of defence, protecting against an unimaginably large splash.

A year ago, Science Magazine published an article which suggested that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could collapse and cause global sea levels to rise by up to three meters with only a small amount of melting over a few decades. Now, new research suggests that this could happen within current lifetimes. This news highlights the urgent need for strong US leadership to take whatever measures are necessary to prevent a cataclysmic climate change event. This situation is reminiscent of tracking near-Earth asteroids, which have the potential to cause destruction if they crash into the planet. The question remains, what can be done to prevent the collapse of the ice sheets?

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