Greenland and Antarctica have been significantly affected by global warming over the past half-century, losing 11.3 trillion tons of ice. This ice loss has resulted in a sea level rise of more than 3 centimeters (1.1 inches). Researchers from an international team have used satellite data to provide the most comprehensive picture of this ice loss.
New Analysis of Polar Ice Changes
This study shows that ice melt in Greenland alone has contributed to a sea level rise of 1.8 centimeters (0.7 inches), while Antarctica has added 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) to this increase. Of the total ice lost, 84 percent is due to accelerated glacier flow into the sea, while only 16 percent is related to surface melting.
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Dr. Ines Otosaka, the lead author of this research, stated that by looking at 50 years of data, we can observe significant changes in polar glaciers. She added that more than four-fifths of the lost ice is due to faster glacier flow into the sea, indicating that the long-term trend is influenced by the dynamic response of glaciers to ocean warming.
Implications of Rising Sea Levels
This rise in sea levels raises significant concerns, as it puts millions at risk of coastal erosion and flooding. Professor Andrew Shepherd, another researcher on this project, warned that although a three-centimeter rise in sea level may seem small, it could endanger 6 to 9 million people.
Since 1999, the average sea level has risen by 3.6 millimeters per year, with 70 percent of this increase attributed to the melting of glaciers and polar ice. Recent changes in satellite data indicate that this increase has significantly accelerated since 2012.
Latest studies suggest that if the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica were to collapse completely, sea levels could rise by as much as 3 meters (10 feet). This rise could threaten cities like Shanghai and London and pose a risk of widespread flooding for residents in low-lying areas such as Florida or Bangladesh.
Research indicates that in the UK, rising sea levels could submerge the homes of 1.7 million citizens by 2310 and affect large areas of coastline. According to computer models, areas like Hull, Peterborough, and Portsmouth are at serious risk.
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