An Unseen Feedback Loop Beneath Antarctica's Glaciers Discovered to Hasten Sea Level Rise

Scientists have reported alarming findings, stating that glaciers in East Antarctica may lose ice at a faster rate than previously anticipated. This disturbing feedback loop occurs as the meltwater from the glaciers contributes to further ice loss and rising sea levels due to planetary warming. These findings, which come shortly after reports of rapid melting in West Antarctica's ice shelves, suggest that the southern continent's melting poses a significant threat of life-altering sea level rise worldwide.

According to Jamin Greenbaum, co-author of the study and assistant research geophysicist at the University of California San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography, this paper reveals that the situation is not only negative but also more dire than previously anticipated. The study, which was published in the journal Science Advances on Friday, primarily examines the Denman and Scott glaciers in East Antarctica, both of which possess a sufficient amount of ice to potentially cause a sea level rise of approximately five feet.

West Antarcticahome to the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday glacier"is the continent's largest contributor to global sea level rise.

Jeremy Harbeck/OIB/NASA

Rapid melting in West Antarctica is unavoidable, with potentially disastrous consequences for sea level rise, study finds

Previous research has demonstrated that when glaciers melt, the water beneath them moves toward the ocean, intensifying the process of glacial melting and ice depletion. A recent study took this feedback into consideration in computer simulations to gauge the potential impact on Antarctic melting and the subsequent rise in sea levels.

The findings revealed that if the global consumption of fossil fuels, known to contribute to climate change, continues to accelerate, the glaciers could recede beyond a crucial tipping point approximately 25 years earlier than projected without the additional discharge of meltwater.

The inclusion of meltwater feedback resulted in an almost 16% increase in sea level rise from the Denman and Scott glaciers by 2300 in this scenario of elevated planet-heating pollution. Notably, Greenbaum stated that the additional ice loss caused by meltwater discharge is currently not considered in climate models that estimate sea level rise, even though it has the potential to significantly contribute to ice loss across the entire continent. According to Greenbaum, it is crucial to measure this phenomenon and incorporate it into climate models in order to obtain an accurate representation of global sea level rise.

Tyler Pelle, a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the importance of focusing on East Antarctica. As it becomes increasingly unstable, it poses a greater threat of rising sea levels to coastal communities and low-lying island nations. Pelle highlights the significant size of these ice masses, which were once considered stable. However, recent coastal observations provide evidence of their long-term retreat, making it crucial to address this issue.

Researchers warn that people's lives are in jeopardy. Although the current generation may not directly suffer the destructive consequences of this melting, Pelle emphasizes that the choices made today determine the destiny of future generations.

Pelle emphasized the long-term consequences of our current emissions on the climate and the future state of the Earth. Our actions today will shape the Earth's appearance in 2100 or even 2300, even if we are no longer here.

This photograph shows ripples in the surface of Denman Glacier in East Antarctica that throw shadows against the ice. The glacier is melting at a faster rate now than it was from 2003 to 2008.

NASA

Scientists have uncovered an ancient landscape in a remote area of Earth that is even less familiar than the surface of Mars. Jan De Rydt, an associate professor specializing in polar glaciology and oceanography at Northumbria University, commends the researchers for presenting a compelling case regarding the importance of considering subglacial discharge in all simulations of Antarctic ice melt.

De Rydt informed CNN that based on this evidence, the process of subglacial melt and discharge must be taken into consideration in future projections of Antarctica's impact on rising sea levels. Although the researchers used a present-day simulation for this study, resulting in cautious findings, Greenbaum stated their intentions to conduct fieldwork to explore the depths of the ice sheet and the ocean, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the future outcomes.

The most crucial area for observation and monitoring in Antarctica remains largely unexplored, according to a spokesperson. This significant issue demands urgent attention and has become a primary focus for our group.