Antarctica and Greenland are flaking six times more ice than for the period of the 1990s. This melting of ice is driving sea level up that could experience annual overflowing by the year 2100. Researchers warn the water may fill in areas that host around 400 million people. The study includes the participation of researchers from 50 international organizations. The team has conducted a trial on the ice sheets that have been melted so far. The IMBIE (Ice Sheet Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise) uses a cluster of 11 satellite missions and 26 diverse surveys to spot changes in the volume, mass, gravity, and flow of the glaciers.
Scientists found that Greenland and Antarctica have lost over six trillion tonnes of ice during the years 1992 to 2017. Notably, the ice loss has resulted in a rise in sea levels by 0.7 inches or 17.88 mm. Among the overall sea-level increase, Greenland ice loss accounts for a 60% raise, and Antarctica is liable for 40%. Andrew Shepherd from the University of Leeds, a co-author of the trial, said every centimeter of rising sea levels result in coastal flooding and erosion. It also interrupts the lives of people across the planet. The team warns if both regions continue to follow the worst-case weather warming state, they will contribute to the rising sea levels. The oceanic water level would rise an additional 17 cm by the end of the current century.
Well, these events are not unpredictable with negligible impact. Instead, those are already on the way, which could eventually have an adverse and devastating effect on coastal communities. Before this, in the 1990s, the collective rate of ice melting has remained 81 billion tonnes every year. But current melting rates have reached up to 475 billion tonnes per year. NASA JPLs Erik Ivins, a co-author of the study, said satellite-based observations of polar ice are necessary. He added such findings are essential to forecast the impact of climate transformation on ice loss and sea levels. Meanwhile, computer simulations enable researchers to make predictions from transforming climate scenarios. Erik noted their project is a perfect example that reveals the importance of the global alliance to combat problems at a global extent.
