A23a: World's biggest iceberg on the move after 30 years
BBC NewsDEC 2 2023
This slowing circulation is extremely worrying because it shows that there are consequences for this melting Antarctic ice, beyond just rising sea levels. This new study is a warning sign of what potential future changes could occur to crucial ocean cycles as ice melt continues. The global community needs to step up and immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions before it's too late.
While the study found a slowing of circulation in the Australian Antarctic Basin, observations don't yet show the same rapid trends occurring in other spots around Antarctica. This finding is concerning, but there's still time to turn things around in line with global attempts to reduce CO2.
Despite these latest findings, Antarctic ice melt may yet reverse thanks to natural processes. The melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet may not be permanent. Bedrock cores show that ice in Antarctica grew back several thousand years ago after a severe thaw. This evidence suggests that rising landmasses may contribute to slowing glacial melt and sea level rise. There's reason for optimism based on cycles from deep Earth history.