West Antarctic Ice Sheet at risk of collapse and sea-level rise

A panel of Australian and international scientists has warned that rapid, large-scale changes in Antarctica could unfold far sooner than previously anticipated, with profound implications for Australia and Pacific nations. The new research, published in Nature, argues the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is at severe risk of collapse as global temperatures rise, potentially unleashing more than three metres of sea-level rise and triggering a cascade of interconnected changes in ice, ocean circulation and ecosystems. It also highlights a troubling trend in sea-ice loss and warns that emperor penguin populations could face widespread breeding failure, threatening a iconic species across the continent.

The study concludes that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could reach a tipping point even if carbon emissions are reduced aggressively, with a critical threshold around two degrees Celsius of global warming above preindustrial levels. Lead author Nerilie Abram, chief scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division, emphasizes that sea-level rise of this magnitude would threaten coastal cities worldwide and create long-lasting impacts for generations. “Rapid change has already been detected...