A tipping point refers to the threshold at which a series of small changes accumulate to push a system beyond a point of no return.
A small increase in ocean temperatures can have a very big impact on the amount of melting, the study found.
The study does not give time frames for when the tipping point might be reached, nor does it give figures for how much sea level rise can be expected.
A slew of research has looked at the vulnerability of this vast continent to the impacts of the climate crisis.
“With every small increase in ocean temperature, with every small increase in climate change, we get closer to these tipping points,” he said.
Persons:
”, Alex Bradley, Bradley, Sebnem, Eric Rignot, Ted Scambos
Organizations:
CNN, British Antarctic Survey, Nature, Getty, University of California, University of Colorado
Locations:
West Antarctica, East Antarctica, Antarctica, Anadolu, Irvine, University of Colorado Boulder