A spectacular 4-minute video of a calving event for ice the area of Manhattan, but taller.
Areas of glacier retreat (red arrows) and advance (blue)
Topographic map of Antarctica's bedrock.
Antarctica holds about 90% of the ice on Earth, almost 10% in West Antarctica (including 1% in the Antarctic Peninsula) and some 80% in East Antarctica (in right half of circle below). West Antarctica's ice, if melted, would raise sea level ~5 meters (16 feet). If all of East Antarctica's ice melted, it would raise sea level another ~55 meters (180 feet). Until 40 million years ago, Antarctica had no ice and sea levels were far higher than now.
Glaciation in Antarctica began 39 million years (MY) ago. It was largely complete by 34 MY ago. Antarctic ice has waxed and waned some since then, but has been generally similar to the amount today.
In recent years, ice shelf breakup has concentrated on the Antarctic Peninsula (upper left). But ice loss from retreating glaciers in West Antarctica (in left half of circle) has begun.
Roughly 2/3 of West Antarctica's ice is grounded below sea level. But so is some 1/3 of East Antarctica’s, more than half in the Wilkes and Aurora Basins (“southeast” quadrant), toward Australia and New Zealand. That’s more square miles in the East than the West.
Map by Paul V. Heinrich, data from BEDMAP Consortium (European Ice Sheet Modelling Initiative, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research)
Antarctic Peninsula Glacier Saw Fastest Retreat Ever Recorded 1125.rtf
Why Sea Levels Are Rising the Fastest in the Last 4,000 Years 1025.rtf
With Abrupt Changes Occurring Now, Antarctic Ice Loss Could Be Catastrophic 0825.rtfCrossing Antarctic Tipping Points Is More Likely Each Day We Burn Fossil Fuels 0625.rtfIce Melting from Amazon Fires Soot, Microplastics Show Growing Antarctic Crisis 0625.rtfNext Few Years Are Vital to Secure the Future of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet 0625.rtfImmense Methane Leaks Discovered in Antarctica 0325.rtfThe Great Ocean Slowdown - How Antarctic Ice Loss Is Reshaping the Climate 0325.rtfWarm Seawater Encroaches on Filchner Ice Shelf, Raises Sea Level Concerns 0125.rtfAntarctic Ice Melt May Fuel Eruptions of Hidden Volcanoes 0125.rtfThwaites Glacier Melting Faster than Expected. Use Giant Submarine Curtains? 1124.rtf - Such curtains might prevent warmer-than-ice ocean water from flowing in under glaciers and melting them from below.Greening of Antarctica Shows Significant Climate Shift on the Frozen Continent 1024.rtfGrim Outlook for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier Portends Disastrous Rising Seas 0924.rtfClick for moreAntarctic Ice Melt Related to Tropical Weather Shifts – a Game Changer? 0420.rtf
- 2.3 trillion tonnes in 15 years
if we continue current emissions rate
if Paris committments are met & world warms only 2°C
Section Map: Ice