Antarctica’s Melting Glaciers Released 7.5 Trillion Tons Of Water Into The Oceans

In today’s world, global climate change is having serious impacts on our planet’s ecosystems and social structures.

The most obvious sign of these changes is the melting of glaciers in the polar regions.

The melting of glaciers, especially in Antarctica, has a significant impact not only on natural balances but also on human life.

7.5 Trillion Of Water Released Into The Oceans

A study has revealed that over the past 25 years, Antarctica’s melting ice sheets have released a staggering 7.5 trillion tons of water into the oceans.

Analyzing more than 100,000 satellite radar images, researchers from the University of Leeds discovered a steady erosion of the continent’s ice sheets, with more than 40 percent shrinkage between 1997 and 2021.

While some ice sheets grew in size during this time, the data revealed that a third lost more than 30 percent of its initial mass, releasing large amounts of fresh water in the process.

Alarmingly, scientists say this massive release of freshwater could destabilize ocean currents and contribute to global sea level rise.

Scientists found that almost all of the ice sheets on the east coast have melted, but many ice sheets on the west coast have remained the same size or have grown.

This is due to the pattern of ocean currents surrounding Antarctica, which carry water at different temperatures.

The west coast is exposed to warm waters that erode the ice sheets from below, while East Antarctica is protected by a belt of colder water near the coast.

Overall, 59 trillion tons of water have been added to the continent’s ice shelves since 1975. But this has been offset by 67 trillion tons lost. The biggest losses were on the Getz Ice Shelf, where 1.9 trillion tons of water disappeared.

Dr. Benjamin Davison, who led the research, said that this evidence points to a marked change in the Antarctic ice:

We expected most ice shelves to go through a rapid but short-lived downsizing cycle, then slowly grow again.

‘Instead, we see almost half of them shrinking with no sign of recovery.

Dr. Davidson and his colleagues believe this change is due to human-induced global warming.

If the increased melt rate was due to natural factors, such as changes in climate patterns, there would also be evidence of ice regrowth in the typically warmer west.

Scientists Are Worried

The team behind this latest study is now concerned that the continued erosion of the ice sheet could have major knock-on effects on the wider climate.

When glaciers thin or shrink in size, they make their way faster out to sea and the rate of ice loss in the ocean increases.

Removing or reducing ice shelves could disrupt the Antarctic ice system as well as global ocean circulation.

As the vast majority of water from melting ice sheets is fresh, this dilutes the salty ocean, reducing its density and taking longer to sink, which weakens the ocean’s circulation.

Research shows that this process may already be starting to undermine the delicate balance of the South Pole.