An international team used a 20-foot autonomous underwater vehicle named Ran to map the underside of the Dotson Ice Shelf in West Antarctica, revealing complex melt patterns that differ between the western and eastern portions and are influenced by underwater currents; Ran disappeared on a 2024 mission after collecting data, likely due to running aground or being lost to wildlife, prompting plans to replace it and continue this important research, with findings published in Science Advances.
Rapid melting of West Antarctica's ice shelves is now considered unavoidable due to human-caused global warming, according to a new study. Even if ambitious climate targets are met, substantial ocean warming and ice shelf melting will occur. Ice shelves act as a defense against sea level rise, and their loss could have devastating consequences. The study found that even limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius would still result in three times the historical rate of ocean warming. The collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet could raise sea levels by over 17 feet, impacting coastal communities worldwide. While the study focused on ice shelf melting, it is expected to contribute to increased sea level rise. The only way to halt rapid ice melting would be to reduce planet-heating pollution and remove existing emissions, which poses a significant challenge. While some caution is advised, the study's conclusions align with previous research and should be considered by policymakers. Despite the dire outlook, efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions remain crucial to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
