"Antarctic Octopus DNA Uncovers Imminent Ice Sheet Collapse"
TL;DR
A study published in Science reveals that the DNA of Antarctic octopuses indicates an ice-free corridor during the Last Interglacial period, around 125,000 years ago, when global temperatures were similar to today. The findings suggest that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is closer to collapse than previously thought, potentially leading to a long-term sea level rise of 3.3-5 meters. The study highlights the urgency of holding human-caused warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius target of the Paris Agreement to prevent catastrophic consequences.
Topics:scienceenvironment#antarctic#climate-change#environment#ice-sheet-collapse#octopus-dna#sea-level-rise
- Antarctic octopus DNA reveals ice sheet collapse closer than thought Phys.org
- Genomic evidence for West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse during the Last Interglacial Science
- Octopuses help solve a long-standing mystery of West Antarctica demise The Washington Post
- This Antarctic Octopus Has a Warning About Rising Sea Levels The New York Times
- Antarctic Octopus Holds Secrets of Prehistoric Ice Loss in Its Genome Scientific American
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Phys.org