Antarctica's Alarming Warming Trend Threatens Global Sea Levels
Antarctica is warming at a rate twice as fast as the rest of the planet, surpassing projections made by climate models, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change. The research, which analyzed 78 ice cores, found evidence of polar amplification in Antarctica, a phenomenon that causes higher temperatures near the poles. The study warns that failing to consider these feedback loops could lead to an underestimation of the magnitude of anthropogenic warming and its consequences in Antarctica. The findings have raised concerns about the future of Antarctic sea ice, ecosystems, and potential sea-level rise. Another study published the same day suggests that while irreversible retreat of the West Antarctic ice sheet has not yet occurred, it is possible if current climate conditions persist. These studies add to growing evidence of the impact of human-caused global heating on Antarctica.