Arctic ice melt: Rising seas and underwater marvels
Scientists have been studying the melting of Arctic glaciers for years. In addition to the progressive warming of the climate, the ocean also influences this alarming process, potentially leading to rising sea and ocean levels.
The Antarctic ice sheet contains 60% of the world's fresh water, with an average thickness of one mile, and the continent itself is twice the size of Australia. The ice loss from this sheet could significantly contribute to sea level rise.
The ice sheet is melting at an alarming rate
The climate crisis is advancing, and we will experience its effects in the coming years. One consequence of this is the rising levels of seas and oceans. However, scientists have made progress in understanding the so-called boundary layer of ice and ocean. At the edges of the ice sheet, glaciers flow into the Southern Ocean, forming ice shelves that help stabilize the sheet. The ocean melts the lower layers, causing them to melt and retreat, which raises sea levels.
Oceanic processes controlling ice melting occur on a very small scale, making their measurement and modeling difficult. However, thanks to new computer simulations and underwater robots, scientists have acquired new data about the environment beneath the ice shelves.
Underwater formations discovered
Robots have revealed extraordinary ice formations, such as crevices and indentations. New simulations show how the ice shapes itself, similar to dunes in the desert. To better understand the process, new computer models are still needed to simulate the entire ice landscape.
The melting of glaciers is progressing at an alarming rate, with significant consequences. The last decade has seen record levels of melting, and scientists warn of further impacts.
Scientists emphasize the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change in the coming decades. International climate reports predict a significant temperature increase in polar regions, which will accelerate the observed trends.
