Scientists Warn Antarctic, Greenland Ice Shelves Melting Faster, Climate Risks Rising

Scientists are raising alarms about accelerating ice melt in polar regions and the associated global consequences. Australian researchers warn of a looming funding crisis in Antarctic research programs, which jeopardizes the analysis of critical data and threatens the careers of early-career scientists studying climate risks such as sea level rise. New findings reveal that the Antarctic Slope Current, a vital ocean current that protects Antarctica's ice from warm waters, is speeding up due to meltwater, potentially destabilizing the ice shelves and heightening climate risks. In Greenland, the second-largest ice shelf, Petermann, is melting faster than anticipated due to a turbulence-driven melting mechanism that draws warm Atlantic water beneath the ice, accelerating melt rates even when ocean temperatures remain constant. This process not only contributes to rising sea levels but also could have similar effects in Antarctica if meltwater discharge increases. Additionally, increased black carbon pollution from shipping in the Arctic is exacerbating ice melt and climate warming, posing further threats to polar ice stability and global sea levels.