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HomeGlobal Warming'Warm deep sea water flowing towards one of Antarctica's largest ice shelves'

‘Warm deep sea water flowing towards one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves’

“Threatening Warm Water Flowing Toward Antarctica’s Massive Ice Shelf Could Raise Sea Levels Dramatically”

In a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, researchers have found that warm water is flowing towards the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (FRIS) in Antarctica, which could potentially lead to a dramatic rise in sea levels if the shelf were to melt. The FRIS, located in the Weddell Sea, is currently stable, but previous ocean modeling has shown that warm water from the deep sea could pose a threat to its integrity.

The study, conducted by researchers including Nadine Steiger, a physical oceanographer at Sorbonne University in France, found that warm water flows more rapidly towards the shelf during warmer years, potentially linked to reduced sea ice cover during those periods. If this trend continues, it could lead to the melting of the ice shelf.

Steiger explained that if the warm water reaches underneath the ice shelf, it could melt the base of the shelf, ultimately causing a significant rise in sea levels. However, it is still unclear whether the increased flow of warm water is directly linked to climate change.

Kaitlin Naughten, an ocean-ice modeler at the British Antarctic Survey, noted that while the warm water may be a warning sign, it could also be a result of normal variability in the region. She emphasized the importance of long-term observations to better understand the dynamics of the region and predict future changes in the ice shelf.

The study also identified a previously unknown trough through which warm water flows towards the ice shelf, particularly high in 2017 and 2018 when sea ice levels were lower. However, researchers only had data up to 2021, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of the region.

While scientists agree that warm water flooding the continental shelf could spell doom for FRIS, some research suggests that this scenario would only occur in an extreme climate change scenario. Naughten led a study in 2021 that estimated the tipping point for FRIS would only be crossed with global warming exceeding 12.6 F (7 C) above pre-industrial levels, a significantly dangerous threshold.

Overall, while the potential impact of warm water on the FRIS is concerning, researchers believe that other regions of Antarctica are more at risk of rapid ice loss and subsequent sea level rise. Monitoring the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf for signs of change remains crucial in understanding the broader implications of climate change on Antarctica’s ice shelves.

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