Over the past two years, research has indicated that meltwater in East Antarctica is on the rise. This increase brings with it questions about its contribution to global sea level rise. Normally considered too cold for meaningful surface melting, East Antarctica is starting to show trends concerning increasing meltwater ponding. This phenomenon is likely to be responsible for the loss of ice shelves. As a result, it will hasten ice loss in the region and contribute to sea levels worldwide.
Scientists from the University of Liverpool and the University of York have collaborated on the study. Their findings underscore these troubling trends. After manually classifying each of the more than 133,000 available satellite images, they created a novel high-resolution monthly dataset of surface meltwater extent across Antarctica. The findings, published in Nature Climate Change, reveal that the area covered by meltwater fluctuated significantly from year to year.
Understanding Meltwater in East Antarctica
Brown’s study observed that an average of 3,732 square kilometers of Antarctica were affected by meltwater in every melt season. This increase is especially troubling given predicted future increases for East Antarctica, where the ice sheet’s surface is starting to look more susceptible to meltwater ponding. As atmospheric temperatures increase, scientists expect that meltwater will have an increasingly important role in Antarctic mass loss.
Adding weight to these findings, Professor James Lea of the University of Liverpool said, “These are hugely significant findings.
“This study provides an incredibly important insight into how meltwater around Antarctica varies. This is crucial for understanding Antarctic ice sheet stability, as we know meltwater ponding can cause ice shelf collapse. When these floating ice shelves disintegrate, they can release substantial volumes of grounded ice into the ocean from upstream, contributing to global sea level rise.”
The consequences of this accelerated meltwater are not limited to Antarctica’s shores. Melting of this region’s ice has a profound influence on sea level changes along the UK, among other places. It most importantly impacts the whole of the northern hemisphere. The research underscores the importance of policymakers to reconsider their views towards the Antarctic continent in light of swift, unprecedented changes.
The Data Behind the Findings
The researchers then performed an exhaustive analysis of satellite images from the 1970s to 2015 to record what proportion of the surface was covered by meltwater each year. Dr. Pete Tuckett from the University of York remarked on the significance of this data collection effort:
“The data analysis for this study is no mean feat—by analyzing literally tens of thousands of satellite images we’ve been able to show in detail where and why meltwater coverage is changing across the entire Antarctic continent.”
This detailed new dataset gives scientists the tools they need to pinpoint areas in acute danger from escalating meltwater. Reconciling these differences is crucial for forecasting East Antarctica’s future contribution to sea level rise, both locally and around the world.
Future Implications and the Need for Comprehensive Research
These findings signal an urgent need for additional research. We need to understand the conditions under which meltwater ponding in East Antarctica will intensify. Dr. Tuckett stressed the importance of integrating this new dataset with climate models, satellite observations, and ground measurements:
“It is key that this new dataset is now combined with climate models, other satellite observations, and on-the-ground measurements to better understand the underlying causes of the increased meltwater ponding in East Antarctica and its potential future impacts on ice sheet stability and sea levels.”
Both scientists are united in their belief of the international importance of monitoring how surface meltwater is changing. Dr. Tuckett stated:
“Understanding where and why surface meltwater is changing in Antarctica is crucial for predicting the continent’s future contribution to our oceans. It’s a global story.”
Yet as climate change speeds up the rate of these changes, surveying them will be more important than ever. This research emphasizes the need for urgency. Policymakers and scientists alike must address the impacts of increased meltwater in East Antarctica. Such meltwater could be enough to raise global seas by more than three feet.