Antarctic Sea Ice Loss Is Irreversible as Warming Continues, Scientists Say

Antarctic sea ice reached a record low in February, according to a study in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science. The cause of this great damage is rising global temperatures. The study’s co-author, Anna Hogg, warns that it will take decades or centuries for the ice to recover, as melting icebergs and shelves are not a quick fix.

Compared to the average over the past 40 years, this year’s sea ice minimum is 20% lower, resulting in a loss that is almost ten times the size of New Zealand. A tipping point may be reached, potentially resulting in irreversible changes with unstoppable effects for future generations, says Tim Naish, director of the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington.

The study indicates that fossil fuel-driven global warming has made Antarctica more susceptible to extreme events, a trend set to worsen. While the exact effects on Antarctica and its oceans are uncertain, scientists anticipate intensified extreme events with rising global temperatures. The rapid decline in sea ice serves as a credible indicator of this growing risk.

Read also : Melting Arctic Ice Triggers Extreme Winter Weather Around The World

Last year, Antarctica’s summer ice cover dropped below 2 million square kilometers for the first time since 1978. An Australian atmospheric river caused subtropical heat and moisture to reach 38.5 Celsius above normal, the largest global variance since 1978.

source: reuters.com

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