Alarm Raised over Antarctic Ice Melt: Potential Sea Level Rise of 10 Feet

Alarm Raised over Antarctic Ice Melt: Potential Sea Level Rise of 10 Feet

One geosciences professor warns that the Antarctic glaciers’ melting could raise sea levels in North America by 10 feet by 2150, a grim consequence of ongoing planetary overheating. Professor Rick Aster of Colorado State University, whose findings were published in the journal Science Advances, discovered a “feedback loop” in the glacier melt. As glaciers lose ice, it overflows the bowl-shaped bedrock, allowing seawater to enter and accelerate the melt rate.

Escalating Feedback Loop Fueling Glacier Loss

The feedback loop, a concerning revelation, involves the bedrock beneath the glaciers rising due to reduced pressure. While initially slowing ice loss, Aster’s team found that the bedrock in West Antarctica is rising at a substantial rate of 2 inches per year, indicating a rapid loss of ice. As sea levels rise, coastal areas are threatened, but the rising coastline could mitigate the impact to some extent. However, at current glacier melt rates, continental rock cannot keep pace with the rising seawater.

Global Consequences of Glacier Melt

The inability of continental rock to match the pace of glacier melt portends rising ocean levels beyond North America. Aster emphasizes that the rapid pace of melting, unprecedented in Earth’s history, is alarming. The Sun reported that similar phenomena have been observed under Greenland’s glaciers, suggesting that ice melt could occur at an accelerated pace.

Coastal Disasters and Ecosystem Impacts

As glaciers melt, coastlines will submerge, threatening communities. This process could progress gradually or rapidly, as the glacier research indicates. Coastal cities worldwide, including New York, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Miami, face the possibility of being submerged. Furthermore, islands such as the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, situated barely above sea level, may vanish altogether. The melting glaciers also impact ecosystems, causing erosion and landscape alterations.

Urgent Need for Clean Energy Transition

The planet’s overheating, primarily caused by our reliance on fossil fuels, is driving the glacier melt. To mitigate the effects of air pollution and slow the melting, a shift to renewable energy sources like wind and solar is imperative. By adopting clean energy, we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to preserving our planet for future generations.