Climate Tipping in Antarctica

Climate Tipping in Antarctica

Question: According to a new study, in which of the following year Antarctica’s ice sheet could reach a tipping point?
a) 2030
b) 2060
c) 2050
d) None of these
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:-

  • According to a new study shows that the Antarctica ice sheet could reach a tipping point by about 2060.
  • Scientists reported that Antarctica Ice Sheet (AIS) will cross a critical threshold leading to an irreversible global sea-level rise.
  • They explained that this would happen only if the global greenhouse emissions continue at the current rate.
  • The Tipping Point
  • The Antarctica Ice Sheet, known to be Earth’s largest ice reservoir, is covered by several protective ice shelves.
  • These ice shelves are grounded below sea level on the bedrock that is sloped inward to the center of the continent.
  • This inward slope exposes the ice shelves to warm ocean water flowing under them that can lead to thinning of their lower edges, thereby destabilizing and breaking up.
  • The breaking up of ice shelves leads to towering ice cliffs that are unstable and when they collapse, they accelerate the rate of ice flow into the oceans.
  • A computer model based on the physics of ice sheets has been developed and used in this study.
  • According to this model it was found that global warming above 2 degrees Celsius will lead to a steep increase in ice loss in Antarctica.
  • The model indicated that this kind of steep increase in ice loss in Antarctica will occur especially through the ginormous Thwaites Glacier.
  • The Thwaites Glacier is equivalent to the side of Britain or Florida.
  • It is a part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and a deep focus of study among scientists in the US and UK.
  • Currently, the world is on track to exceed 2 degrees Celsius with the current policies and emissions rate.
  • Countries fulfilling the Paris Agreement targets are one way to drastically reduce the rising sea level.
  • Scientists fear that reversing ice loss would not be possible then and by 2100, the sea level rise would be 10 times faster than today.

Links:-
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/antarctica-is-headed-for-a-climate-tipping-point-by-2060-with-catastrophic-melting-if-carbon-emissions-arent-cut-quickly-255260