Ice Sheets on Brink of Collapse
New research warns that ice sheets are melting at an uncontrollable rate. Even if global temperatures don’t rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius, it won’t stop the damage.
A team of scientists studied ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. They used satellite data, climate models, and past evidence. What they found is alarming.
The world has promised to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But that goal is slipping away. The planet is on track for a 2.9-degree increase by 2100.
The study, published in Communications Earth and Environment, found that keeping temperatures below 1.5 degrees won’t save the ice sheets. Even if we keep temperatures at current levels, the ice will still melt and sea levels will rise.
Consequences of Rising Sea Levels
Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica hold enough water to raise sea levels by 213 feet. While that’s unlikely, the consequences of rising sea levels are real. Since the 1990s, the planet has lost four times more ice. Currently, 397 billion tons of ice are lost each year.
Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities. Over 230 million people live in areas less than 3 feet above sea level. A small change in ice sheet mass can have a big impact on these communities.
Scientists predict sea levels could rise by 0.4 inches per year by the end of the century. That’s a 40-inch increase, which would lead to mass migration.
A Lower Safe Limit
The safe limit for temperature rise to save the ice sheets is getting lower. Initially, scientists thought a 3-degree increase was safe. Now, they say it’s 1 degree or lower.
To achieve this, the world must significantly reduce fossil fuel use. This is a challenge, especially for countries like the United States, which still heavily relies on oil, coal, and natural gas.
Dr. Chris Stokes, a glaciologist at Durham University and co-author of the study, said, “There’s little to give us hope.” The best-case scenario is slowing down sea level rise.
However, Dr. Stokes emphasized that this doesn’t mean giving up on controlling global temperatures. “Limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees is a significant achievement and should remain our goal, even if it won’t stop sea level rise and ice sheet collapse.”
Source: cnn