Scientists warn of major ice sheet loss due to small temperature rise

A minor increase in ocean temperature could drastically accelerate ice sheet melting and raise sea levels much more than current models predict.

Damian Carrington reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Warm seawater intruding under coastal ice sheets melts them, creating cavities that further enhance melting and ice loss.
• Computer models show that even a small rise in water temperature could trigger significant ice sheet collapse.
• This process may be responsible for underestimating past sea level rises and poses severe future risks.

Key quote:

“With every tenth of a degree of ocean warming, we get closer and closer to passing this tipping point.”

— Dr. Alexander Bradley, British Antarctic Survey

Why this matters:

The urgency of addressing climate change becomes more apparent with each new study. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in renewable energy, and enhancing coastal resilience are steps that must be accelerated to prevent the most severe outcomes of a warming planet.

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• Cities at risk as sea levels rise and land sinks