"Study Confirms Irreversible Retreat of West Antarctica Glacier"

A new study reveals that Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica experienced irreversible mass loss and retreat starting in the 1940s, triggered by a temporary increase in melting under its floating ice shelf. This accelerated retreat continued until the 1990s when the grounding line reached a shallow section of bedrock. The study suggests that if there is a significant increase in melting at the base of a glacier's floating ice shelf, it can retreat past a tipping point, making the loss of ice mass irreversible. The findings highlight the potential future collapse of West Antarctica and its implications for global sea level rise.