“How does Antarctic ice loss contribute to global sea level rise, and

A Global Crisis

Climate change and Antarctic Ice sheets:

Imagine a world where entire coastal cities—New York, Miami, Lagos—are submerged underwater. This isn't science fiction; it's the very real future we face if Antarctic ice continues melting at its current pace. Every second, Antarctica sheds enough ice to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. What implications does this have for our lives, homes, and future? Let's explore this critical issue together and understand why we must act now.

The Science of Antarctic Ice Loss

Moon et al. (2018) found that "Subaqueous melt has increased since the 1990s, as a result of increased subglacial discharge and warmer subsurface ocean water [98, 99], but the impact on individual glaciers varies due to local topography, calving rate, and ice front melt rate”.

Warming Atmosphere: The increase in global temperatures leads to heightened surface melting of ice shelves and glaciers, particularly during the warmer seasons. • Example: Surface melting has been observed on the Antarctic Peninsula. Ocean Warming: Elevated ocean temperatures erode ice shelves from below, destabilizing and expediting ice flow into the ocean. • Example: Warm water intrusion significantly affects the Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier. Calving Events: The detachment of large ice chunks from ice shelves contributes to overall ice mass loss. Although calving is a natural process, its frequency has been accelerating as a consequence of climate change, ASOC (2023).

Interactives - Climate Change: Vital Signs of the PlanetVital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. Current news and data streams about global warming and climate change from...Nasa

Mechanisms of Ice Loss: Calving: Icebergs breaking off from glaciers into the ocean. Ocean Warming: Warmer water erodes glaciers from beneath, accelerating melting. Surface Darkening: Less reflective ice absorbs more heat, causing faster melt.

Key Regions Affected - West Antarctica: Home to Thwaites Glacier ("Doomsday Glacier"), highly unstable. East Antarctica: Larger ice sheet, previously considered stable but now showing signs of vulnerability. Contribution to Sea Level Rise: Antarctica contributes 0.4 mm/year to global sea level rise, with potential acceleration. If the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapses, sea levels could rise by over 3 meters (10 feet), ASOC (2023).

Impacts on Global Sea Levels

Global Threat to Coastal Communities • Rising sea levels caused by melting Antarctic ice pose one of the greatest climate-related threats to humanity today. • Even a modest rise of a few feet could displace millions of people and inundate critical infrastructure.

Interactives - Climate Change: Vital Signs of the PlanetVital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. Current news and data streams about global warming and climate change from...Nasa

Floodwaters could displace roughly 230 million people currently living within 3 feet of the high tide line (ASOC, 2023).

Dasgupta et al. (2007) found that low-lying developing countries like Vietnam, Egypt, and The Bahamas are especially vulnerable, with saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources and agricultural lands severely threatening livelihoods.

Flooded Communities.

Flooded Coastal Regions.

Flooded Communities.

Economic Costs Billions in damage to property, loss of livelihoods, and increased costs for disaster recovery and adaptation.

Billions in damage to property, loss of livelihoods, and increased costs for disaster recovery and adaptation.

Social Displacement Entire communities may become climate refugees, creating additional stress on urban areas and governments.

Thwaites Glacier alone accounts for ~4% of the current sea-level rise and is at risk of collapsing (ASOC, 2023).

Thwaites Glacier

Known as the "Doomsday Glacier" because of its critical role in sea-level rise Located in West Antarctica and currently losing ice at an alarming rate.Accounts for approximately 4% of global sea-level rise on its own (ASOC, 2023)

"The Doomsday Glacier"

Sea level rise from Thwaites alone could submerge coastal cities like Miami, New York, and Dhaka.

Mechanisms of Melting Ocean Warming: Warm ocean currents are melting the glacier from below, causing it to lose stability.

Risks Collapse would be irreversible and trigger further destabilization of surrounding ice shelves and glaciers (Moon et al., 2018).

Risk of Collapse Scientists predict that Thwaites Glacier could collapse within the next few centuries if current warming trends continue.

Mechanisms of Melting Grounding Line Retreat: The grounding line (where the glacier meets the seafloor) is retreating, leading to faster ice flow into the ocean.

Impacts on Developing Coastal regions

Developing countries often lack the resources and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels. • Coastal regions in countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and The Bahamas are particularly at risk.Dasgupta et al. (2007): GIS-based studies predict severe economic, social, and environmental consequences for these areas, including massive displacement.

Flooded Communities.

Call for Global Action • Wealthier nations and international organizations must provide financial and technological support to help these regions adapt. • Adaptation strategies include seawalls, managed retreats, and sustainable urban planning, IPCC (2024).

Adaptation Strategies for Affected Regions

Mitigation: Reducing the Root Cause

Solutions and Adaptation Strategies

Global Collaboration

Call for Global Action • Wealthier nations and international organizations must provide financial and technological support to help these regions adapt. • Adaptation strategies include seawalls, managed retreats, and sustainable urban planning, IPCC (2024).

Support for Developing Nations: Wealthier nations must provide funding and technical support to vulnerable regions.

Strengthening International Policies: • Expand agreements like the Paris Accord to include stricter enforcement mechanisms.

Antarctica’s vast ice sheets are crucial as they contain approximately 90% of the world’s freshwater resources, essential in regulating the Earth’s complex climate system (ASOC, 2023). The phenomenon of ice loss in this region is accelerating at an alarming rate, primarily driven by the increase in global temperatures and the warming of the oceans. This significant melting of ice is contributing in a major way to the rising sea levels that threaten coastal communities around the globe.

Impacts of melting Antarctic Ice

The Time to Act is NOW

Antarctica’s ice is melting at an unprecedented rate, reshaping coastlines and threatening the future of millions. Every decision we make today will ripple through time, determining the fate of ecosystems, vulnerable communities, and our planet itself.

What Can You Do ?

"We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.” – Barack Obama

Works Cited.

ATLANTIC OCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

ARCTIC OCEAN

Faith Nimpa

Works Cited

Works Cited.

Works Cited.

While the models discussed by Moon et al. (2018) offer valuable insights, there are still uncertainties regarding the pace and extent of ice loss. • This uncertainty highlights the urgent need for immediate global action to mitigate emissions and prepare for the inevitable impacts.

Scientific Uncertainty and Urgency

Thwaites is roughly the size of Florida and acts as a “cork” for the rest of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. If it collapses, it could unleash further ice loss

Why the Thwaites Glacier is relevant?

Current ice loss: "Losing ~50 billion tons of ice annually due to ocean warming and grounding line retreat" (Muntjewerf, 2022).

Potential Sea-Level Rise: If Thwaites collapses entirely, it could contribute up to 2 feet of global sea level rise on its own.

Specific Impacts

• Economic Consequences:
• Flooding of urban areas can lead to billions in property damage and loss of livelihoods.
• Agricultural lands inundated with saltwater result in food insecurity and reduced GDP.

•

Social Displacement: • Millions of people may become climate refugees, straining neighboring regions and creating humanitarian crises.

Environmental Degradation: • Loss of mangroves, wetlands, and other natural coastal barriers worsens the effects of flooding and erosion. • Wetland losses disrupt ecosystems and biodiversity.

Example: Vietnam could lose significant portions of the Mekong Delta, which is home to millions.

Coastal Regions at risk

Hope for the Future

While the challenges posed by Antarctica’s melting ice are immense, they are not insurmountable. Advances in science, paired with a growing global commitment to address climate change, give us the tools to mitigate its most severe impacts. Through collective action, we can protect vulnerable communities, safeguard ecosystems, and ensure that Antarctica’s unique and vital environment endures for generations to come.

Investigate large-scale solutions, such as artificially cooling regions or reinforcing key ice shelves.

Dasgupta et al. (2007): GIS-based studies predict severe economic, social, and environmental consequences for these areas, including massive displacement.

According to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (2023), the Antarctic Ice Sheet holds around 90% of the world’s freshwater. If fully melted, it could raise sea levels by over 200 feet, but even smaller increases of 3-5 feet would have devastating effects.

Farmland Inundation with Saltwater: Coastal agricultural areas may become barren, leading to food insecurity.

The Role of Individuals • Reduce your carbon footprint: Use energy-efficient appliances, drive less, and consume sustainably. • Advocate for climate policies and support organizations working to combat climate change.

Before and after images portraying the retreating Thwaites Glacier over the years

Use renewable energy, consume sustainably, and advocate for policies that reduce emissions.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint:

Volunteer or donate to organizations working to combat climate change and assist vulnerable communities.

Support Climate Action Initiatives:

Share what you’ve learned with others to raise awareness and influence policy decisions.

Educate and Advocate:

How does Antarctic ice loss contribute to global sea level rise, and what are the resulting impacts on developing coastal regions?

Vietnam: A 1-meter rise in sea level could submerge up to 10% of the country’s land area and displace millions.

Flooded Vietnam Communities.

Rising sea levels from Antarctic ice melt are directly linked to these impacts.

Antarctic ice loss

ASOC (2023) highlights that even a 3-foot rise would impact 230 million individuals worldwide, with developing nations experiencing the most significant consequences.

• Sea-level rise threatens low-lying coastal communities, particularly in developing nations like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and The Bahamas.

The retreat of glaciers, such as Thwaites, highlights the potential for catastrophic and irreversible changes if appropriate actions are not implemented.

The consequences include contaminated freshwater resources, loss of agricultural land, displacement of populations, and significant economic devastation (Dasgupta et al., 2007; IPCC, 2024).

Impacts of melting Antarctic Ice

Improved Ice Sheet Models:

• Employ cutting-edge technology to substantially improve predictions of ice loss, utilizing sophisticated methods such as satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence to deliver more precise and timely data.

Moon et al. (2018): Enhanced modeling techniques assist policymakers in effectively planning for future sea-level rise.

Scientific Advancements

Investigate large-scale solutions, such as artificially cooling regions or reinforcing key ice shelves.

Bangladesh: Already prone to flooding, even a modest rise in sea levels would exacerbate disasters.

Bangladesh Flooding

The Bahamas: A rise of just a few feet could render entire islands uninhabitable.

The Bahamas

The melting of Antarctic ice is not just a distant issue—it’s a pressing global challenge that impacts each and every one of us. Together, by harnessing our knowledge, advocating for change, and taking decisive action, we can create a more sustainable future that benefits everyone. The time to act is now—let’s make it count.

• Transition to renewable energy sources (wind, solar, hydro). • Enforce international agreements like the Paris Accord to limit the rise in global temperature. • Carbon capture technologies to reduce greenhouse gases.

Global Emissions Reductions:

• Significance of Preventing Further Ice Loss:

Reducing emissions slows ocean and atmospheric warming, reducing ice sheet destabilization (ASOC, 2023).

Ocean Surface Temperatures

Build seawalls and storm surge barriers to protect low-lying areas. • Example: The Netherlands’ innovative dike systems and flood barriers.

Coastal Defense Systems:

Restore mangroves, wetlands, and coral reefs to act as natural buffers against flooding and erosion.

Ecosystem Restoration:

Develop sustainable infrastructure in vulnerable regions. • Managed retreat policies for areas that cannot be protected.

Urban Planning and Relocation:

Antarctic Ice mass over time.