Recently the Larsen-B platform, one of the most important in Antarctica, cracked to the point of being reduced to small pieces. Unfortunately, it seems that the melting will not stop there, as new reports document an unprecedented rapid retreat in the glaciers known as Pope, Smith and Kohler in the western part of the ice continent. Faced with such a scenario, it is impossible not to ask the question of what would happen if Antarctica melts completely and climate change experts respond.
The melting of ice sources is not a recent issue, however, in recent years there has been a disproportionate increase in the loss of these bodies. In that sense, he can no longer deny himself and is becoming more and more evident. Because of the , both the Arctic, Antarctica and the glaciers high in the mountains are warming faster than other regions. The most immediate consequence is the melting of icebergs, which are the smallest bodies of ice that roam the ocean. But this is just the beginning, then the ice shelves get involved. They act as a protective barrier to protect the glaciers, which are the largest sources of sweets in the world.
With such a context one simply cannot escape the question of what would happen if Antarctica melts completely. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if Antarctica melts, the remnants of past times will escape and generate even greater warming.
Ancient fossil fuels
According to IPCC researchers, billions of tons of gas, coal and oil are stored beneath the enormous ice sheets. As the ice shelves melt, they would be exposed to the elements and would begin to interact with the . And when burned, they would generate a greater entry of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing a loop of increased warming to occur.
Such an amount of fossil fuels would be enough to completely melt the ice in Antarctica. Which would be extremely detrimental to the planet, since both Antarctica and the Antarctic, each at their diametrically opposite poles, are responsible for maintaining the balance of the Earth. It is thanks to them that the temperature remains optimal to support life, or at least the type of life we know.
Furthermore, if Antarctica melts, not only would temperatures soar, but many landscapes would also disappear. The entry of such quantities of water into the ocean would cause its levels to increase.
The ocean would rise 60 meters
Currently the rate of increase is 3.2 millimeters per year. However, with Antarctica completely converted to water, we would see an increase of almost 60 meters. There is simply no point of comparison and the IPCC data invites us to reflect on the climate crisis we are experiencing.
The lack of measures to confront the changes that we have brought about on the planet are insufficient. Despite the popularity of the topic, we have not managed to break down the wall of bureaucracy. And on the contrary, fatigue at the mention of climatic situations is increasing. Time is of the essence, research shows that by 2060 Antarctica could reach its most critical point of melting if no action is taken sooner. We can still create change and minimize the impacts generated by anthropogenic activities.