An international study into the melting potential of the world’s two largest ice sheets has revealed they could contribute more than 40cm to global sea level rise by 2100 – with catastrophic impacts. The enormous ice sheets that cover Antarctica and Greenland contain vast amounts of frozen water, which if released into the oceans, would raise global sea levels by about 66 metres (220ft) but even partial melting of this ice due to climate breakdown will significantly contribute to sea level rise. A team of more than 60 scientists from 36 institutions round the world projected the changes of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets between 2015 and 2100 under global warming conditions predicted by the latest climate models. The team used 14 different models to estimate the changes in the ice sheet under two different greenhouse gas emissions pathways: a pessimistic scenario, where there is no change in current trends, leading to a rapid increase in emissions; and an optimistic scenario, where comprehensive steps are taken to reduce emissions.
Independent 19th Sept 2020 read more »
There was less ice in the Arctic last week than at any point besides the summer of 2012, researchers say. Climate change is largely to blame for the speed at which ice around the North Pole is melting, they said. “We’re seeing climate change at work because the warm summers become warmer and the cold winters aren’t as cold as they were,” said Mark Serreze, director of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre, which has been keeping satellite records of how frozen the Arctic Ocean is since 1979. Natural climate phenomena lead to slight annual fluctuations but the overall trend has been downwards for a decade, Mr Serreze said.
Times 23rd Sept 2020 read more »