Home / Environment / Underwater Storms Accelerate Antarctic Ice Melt
Underwater Storms Accelerate Antarctic Ice Melt
24 Nov
Summary
- Violent underwater storms melt Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier from below.
- These 'submesoscale' ocean vortexes draw warm water, accelerating ice loss.
- Melting contributes up to 20% of total ice loss, impacting sea level rise.
Violent, storm-like ocean vortexes are causing significant melting of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier from below. These "submesoscale" circulations, measuring 1 to 10 kilometers across, draw up warmer ocean water, aggressively melting the ice shelves. This "weatherlike" process is continuous and accounts for up to 20 percent of total melting in the region.
The discovery has critical implications for future sea level rise predictions, as current models may be significantly underestimating the impact. The accelerated melting of these glaciers, part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, raises concerns about potential collapse and a substantial rise in global sea levels. If the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet were to collapse, sea levels could rise by up to three meters.
Researchers utilized computer modeling and direct observations to identify these underwater phenomena. They found that increased ice shelf melting generates more ocean turbulence, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of melting. Experts stress the necessity of incorporating these short-term, weather-like processes into climate models for more accurate projections of sea level rise.
