The Antarctic is melting and sea level is rising. For the past five years, Antarctica’s ice sheet has been melting at a rate three times higher than before. A threat to coastal cities and communities which could be flooded by 2500.

In the context of global warming, a new study foresees a grim future for the iced continent.

An alarming situation

The Antarctic has lost over 3000 billion tons of ice since 1992. A frightening figure… and it doesn’t seem to be stabilizing. Ice melting has shockingly increased in the last five years.

This was revealed in a scientific study published by Nature magazine. Before 2012, the Antarctic , or the white continent, lost approximately 76 billion tons of ice every year. Since 2012,it has critically increased and scientists estimate losses to 219 billion tons per year. Sad observation : ice is melting three times faster than before.

Consequence of this massive melt ? a rise of sea level of almost 8 millimeters. This figure is most likely to increase in the next few years as glaciers melt.

“We now have a clear picture of what is happening in Antarctica”, highlighted main co-author of the study, Eric Rignot. “We consider these results as additional warning to take action and slow down the process of global warming”.

A severe threat

This new study is an opportunity to sound the alarm ( again) and to identify the continent’s mass, which is not easily quantifiable due to heavy snow, ice sheet melt and drifting icebergs.

Despite global warming, East Antartica holds most of the ice ( 90%). However, the western part is more affected: over 6500 square kilometers of ice have already sunk into the ocean. More generally, in the last 25 years, West Antarctica has lost most of its mass.

This continent-island alone represents 90% of terrestrial ice sheets and the largest fresh water supply on the planet. Should this ice sheet mass melt, sea levels could rise by approximately 60 meters. An increase which greatly threatens populations living in low elevation coastal zones, most likely to be subjected to ocean attacks ( the Maldives, the Netherlands, Bangladesh etc.).

Furthermore, the ice sheet melt is a threat to its species, including penguins and disturbs the functioning of oceans. When melting in the sea, ice turns into less salted and less dense surface water and then disturbs ocean currents.

Measures must be taken to slow down the ice sheet melt and reduce non reversible risks. If this trend continues, Antarctica will become the principal cause of sea level rise.