Antarctica may have crossed a tipping point that leads to rising seas
Antarctica may have passed a climate tipping point of no return, scientists are warning, with mounting evidence that a sudden slump in sea ice formation since 2016 is linked to human-induced ocean warming.
They concluded that, based on historical data alone, the chance of 2023’s sea ice minimum happening was less than 0.1 per cent. “We really are looking at extreme behaviour in terms of sea ice,” she said in a presentation at the Royal Society meeting.
The consequences of this recent shift could be catastrophic. Antarctica’s sea ice helps to stabilise glaciers and ice sheets on the land. Without adequate sea ice formation, their melting rates will accelerate, with the potential to cause extreme global sea level rise. It is estimated that the Antarctic ice sheet contains enough water to raise global sea levels by 58 metres.