Recently the Larsen-B platform, one of the most important in Antarctica, cracked to the point of being reduced to small pieces. Unfortunately it seems that the melting will not stop there, as new reports document a rapid unprecedented retreat in the glaciers known as Pope, Smith and Kohler in the western part of the ice continent. Faced with such a scenario, it is impossible not to question what would happen if antarctica melted completely and climate change experts respond.
The melting of ice sources is not a recent issue, however, in recent years there has been a disproportionate increase in the loss of these bodies. In this sense, the melting of Antarctica can no longer be denied and is becoming increasingly evident. Because of climate change, the Arctic, Antarctic, and high-mountain glaciers are warming faster than other regions. The most immediate consequence is the melting of icebergs, which are the smallest bodies of ice that roam the ocean. But this is just the beginning, then the ice shelves get involved. They act as a protective barrier to protect glaciers which are the world’s largest sources of fresh water.
With such a context, one simply cannot escape the question of what would happen if Antarctica melted completely. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if Antarctica melts, the loopholes of past eras will escape and generate even greater warming.
millennial fossil fuels
According to the IPCC researchers, beneath the enormous ice sheets are sheltered trillions of tons of gas, coal and oil. When the ice shelves melted, they would be exposed to the elements and would begin to interact with the atmosphere. And when burned, they would generate a greater entry of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing a loop of increasing warming to occur.
Such an amount of fossil fuels would be enough to completely melt the ice of Antarctica. Which would be extremely detrimental to the planet, since both Antarctica and the Arctic, each one at its diametrically opposite poles, are in charge of maintaining the balance of the Earth. It is thanks to them that the temperature is kept optimal to support life, or at least the type of life we know.
Furthermore, if Antarctica melts, not only would temperatures soar, but many landscapes would also disappear. The entry of such amounts of water into the ocean would cause an increase in its levels.
The ocean would rise 60 meters
Currently the rate of increase in sea level is 3.2 millimeters per year. However, with Antarctica completely turned to water, we would see an increase of almost 60 meters. There is simply no point of comparison and the IPCC data invites us to reflect on the climate crisis we are experiencing.
The lack of measures to deal with the changes that we have brought about on the planet are insufficient. Despite the popularity of the topic, we have not succeeded in breaking down the wall of bureaucracy. And on the contrary, the weariness at the mention of climatic situations is increasing. Time is pressing, research shows that by 2060 Antarctica could reach its most critical melting point if action is not taken beforehand. We can still generate a change and minimize the impacts generated by anthropogenic activities.
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