Rising Temperatures Lead to Irreversible Ice Loss and Sea-level Rise From Antarctica

Nature, September 23

The rate and scale of ice loss from Antarctica will increase as temperatures exceed 2°C, according to new modeling from the Potsdam Institute.  At global warming up to 2°C above pre-industrial, Antarctica would lose enough ice mass to increase global sea-levels by 1.3 m per each degree of warming.  From 2°C to 6°C however, loss rises to 2.4 m per each degree of warming; and from 6 to 9°C, by 10 m for each degree, if these temperature levels are sustained over time.  Restoration of Antarctica’s ice sheet would require a return to temperatures at or below-pre-industrial.  This study shows the strong sensitivity of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to critical temperature thresholds beyond which amplifying mechanisms are triggered, dramatically accelerating mass loss. The authors conclude that by not meeting the Paris Agreement, more than one such critical threshold might be crossed, committing us to ever-higher long-term sea-level rise.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2727-5

Compiled by Amy Imdieke