California-size Antarctic ice sheet once thought stable may actually be at tipping point for collapse

[Judi Lynn]

By Ben Turner published 1 day ago

Researchers have discovered the base of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, which holds enough ice to raise sea levels by as much as 10 feet, may already be partially thawed.



A photo of Cape Adare located west of the Wilkes Basin in East Antarctica. (Image credit: Getty Images)


A gigantic ice sheet that was thought to be stable may be much closer to runaway melt than anyone realized, a new study has revealed.

The Wilkes Subglacial Basin — a California-size ice sheet in East Antarctica that holds enough ice to lift global sea levels by 10 feet (3 meters) — could be close to thawing at its base.

The discovery was made by scientists using radar surveys from planes flying over the sheet to peek at the ice underneath. If small temperature increases continue to accumulate beneath the sheet, the front edge could become unstuck and collapse. The researchers published their findings Jan. 19 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

"There hasn't been much analysis in this region — there's a huge volume of ice there, but it has been relatively stable," first author Eliza Dawson, a doctoral student in geophysics at Stanford University, said in a statement. "We're looking at the temperature at the base of the ice sheet for the first time and how close it is to potentially melting."

More:
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/california-size-antarctic-ice-sheet-once-thought-stable-may-actually-be-at-tipping-point-for-collapse

[Old Crank]

1. Surfs up!!!

If it goes quickly say goodbye to a lot of coastal property.

[Brenda]

3. Yep and yet most people and even people on DU keep telling me

I'm exaggerating when I talk about it.

Wonder how long America's most expensive home for sale will last?

The owner is either stupid or thinks he's an excellent gambler.

And why do filthy rich homes always need so many bathrooms?

https://www.fox9.com/news/florida-home-for-sale-most-expensive-america-295-million
Published February 14, 2024 12:57PM

NAPLES, Fla. - A Naples, Florida estate is up for sale – and it comes at a hefty, record-breaking price.

The 9-acre property, located on a peninsula in the exclusive, wealthy neighborhood of Port Royal, has the potential to set a record for home sales in the United States.

With a listing price of $295 million, the property, called Gordon Pointe, features six bedrooms and 22 bathrooms.

According to the listing, the nearly 23,000 square-foot home is surrounded on three sides by beaches and comes with a private 231-foot yacht basin and 6-boat T-dock. The property also includes one primary home and two guest homes.

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[SarahD]

2. Something off in the numbers.

The melting of floating sheet ice does not raise ocean levels very much, certainly not ten feet. Ninety percent of floating ice is already in the water, so melting it doesn't do much to raise sea levels. Land ice is the biggie. Some of those glaciers are twenty miles long and two miles thick. If they melt, ocean levels will definitely go up significantly.

[Old Crank]

4. I believe that this is ice on the ground and not floating

[NickB79]

5. The ice is grounded, but the leading edge is below sea level

It's adhered to the ocean floor, for now. It acts as a dam that stops the vast land-based glaciers behind it from reaching the sea.

The fear is that warm water currents are undercutting it. And when the front becomes unmoored, the whole thing will start sliding seaward.

[hatrack]

6. Like WAIS, but much, much bigger . . . .

And as in West Antarctica, the grounding line is retreating rapidly. The consensus seems to be that what's pushing Antarctic melt isn't air temperatures so much as Southern Ocean temps.