Antarctica: “steep” and alarming changes in progress

Antarctica seems subject to a series of “steep” changes that strengthen each other. Moreover, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the whole world, alert researchers in a study published Wednesday in the journal “Nature».

Scientists. Consequently, mostly based in Australia, underline “the emergence of evidence of rapid changes” in the antarctic environment: recoil of the ice floe, slowdown in an ocean current, antarctica: “steep” alarming changes progress cast iron of the ice cap and threats for certain species such as emperors.

“Antarctica shows disturbing signs of change from the point of view of ice, ocean and ecosystems. Some of these steep changes will be difficult to stop. will have effects for future generations, “summarizes for AFP antarctica: “steep” alarming changes progress Nerilie Abram, researcher at the Australian National University and the main author of the study.

Fonte of ice cream. rise in ocean level

Scientists alert for years on the risks posed by climate change of human origin for Antarctica and on the potentially catastrophic consequences for the future, as the rise in the ocean level caused by the Ice Fonte.

But the study also shows how these changes are “interconnected” between them. can in turn worsen climate change, underlines Nerilie Abram.

The decline in the ice floe reduces its ability to reflect solar energy (Albédo effect), thus exacerbating warming. The British Polar Research Institute (Low) also showed. in a study published in June, that the Emperor Penguin colonies decline faster than expected due to the decline in this antarctica: “steep” alarming changes progress ice floe.

The slowdown in the antarctic ocean current. the melting of the glacial caps also strengthen each other, a vicious circle that scientists describe as a feedback loop. These phenomena in turn encourage global warming or the rise in long -term ocean level.

Only one way to limit climate change

The West Antarctic. Glacial Cuff has already been identified by scientists as exposed to the risk of an irreversible switch due to the rise in temperatures. Unlike sea ice floe. its cast iron increases the levels of the oceans, a phenomenon likely to spread over centuries and which will continue even if the climate stabilizes.

This Antarctica area contains enough frozen water to raise the level of the planet’s oceans by about 6 meters. Half of this mass, antarctica: “steep” alarming changes progress equivalent to about 3 meters, would be at risk of an upcoming irreversible collapse.

In conclusion. the authors believe that “the only certain way of reducing the risk of steep changes in the antarcotic environment is to make rapid and deep reductions of CO emissions₂ During this decade “and to limit warming as close as possible to 1.5 ° C, the most ambitious limit of the Paris Agreement.

AFP

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