Antarctica’s record heat wave: A threat to global sea levels and ice integrity
The notoriously chilly East Antarctica is currently seeing considerably higher-than-normal temperatures, according to recent research. The usual range of minus 58 to minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit has not held, with temperatures instead reaching minus 13 to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are far warmer than average for the Antarctic winter, even if it is still very cold.
Possible global implications
The Antarctic ice sheet contains the majority of the planet's ice, and its melting might have a detrimental effect on sea levels all across the world. If all the ice vanished, sea levels might rise by more than 150 feet. Even partial melting of features like the Doomsday Glacier might cause sea levels to increase by ten feet, with disastrous effects on coastal communities worldwide.
Also Read: Pax Jolie-Pitt discharged from ICU after e-bike accident: A long road of recovery ahead
Future heat waves
Scientists are concerned that if these heat waves happen more frequently, the ice cover on the continent may disintegrate and become more vulnerable to future warming. Research meteorologist David Mikolajczyk points out that disruption of the global oceanic currents, which are essential to controlling Earth's climate, could result from increased melting in Antarctica.
The previous heat wave, which occurred in March 2022 and caused temperatures to soar up to 70 degrees above average in some places, was comparable but far worse. Climate change played a major role in the temperature rise, and a 2023 study
