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How Close Are the Planet’s Climate Tipping Points? How close today’s ice is to suffering the same fate is something scientists are still trying to figure out. Sudden Shift in the West African Monsoon0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +16 +18˚F WE ARE HERE Degrees of warming 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +16 +18˚F WE ARE HERE Degrees of warming 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +16 +18˚F WE ARE HERE Degrees of warmingAround 15,000 years ago, the Sahara started turning green. When it might happen: Hard to predict. “With every gram of additional CO2 in the atmosphere, we are increasing the likelihood of tipping events,” he said.

Persons: ”, Tapio Schneider, “ It’s, David Holland, Niklas Boers, “ Organizations: California Institute of Technology, West Antarctic, New York University, Animals, Amazon, Technical University of Munich, Potsdam Institute, Climate Impact Locations: Western Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Greenland, Antarctica, Sahara, North Africa, East Africa, Africa, Caribbean, Europe

☆ Antarctica heat wave sends temperatures 50 degrees above normal
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This is the second significant heat wave Antarctica has endured in the last two years. That unprecedented heat wave was made worse by climate change, according to a 2023 study published in Geophysical Research Letters. Climate change contributed 3.6 degrees of warming to the heat wave and could worsen similar heat waves by 9 to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, the study found. Climate Change Institute, University of Maine Climate Change Institute, University of Maine Slide left to see temperatures observed during this heat wave and right to see what normal temperatures should be. But other research in the last few years has demonstrated that melting in East Antarctica, where this heat wave is happening, is becoming equally troubling.

Persons: David Mikolajczyk, Mikolajczyk, ” Thomas Bracegirdle, University of Maine Bracegirdle, ” Bracegirdle, it’s, Ted Scambos, Bracegirdle, Amy Butler, Butler, ” Organizations: CNN, East Antarctica –, Antarctic Meteorological Research, Data Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Antarctic, Reds, Institute, University of Maine, Research, University of Colorado, Northern Hemisphere, Southern, NOAA’s Chemical Sciences, Change Institute, East Antarctica, National Academy of Sciences, “ Locations: Antarctica, East Antarctica, Bismarck, North Dakota, University of Colorado Boulder, Northern, East, Scambos, West Antarctica

☆ Antarctic ice sheet: Scientists identify new ‘tipping point,’ warning future sea level rise may be underestimated
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

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

☆ Ocean water is rushing miles underneath the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ with potentially dire impacts on sea level rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica — nicknamed the “Doomsday Glacier” because its collapse could cause catastrophic sea level rise — is the world’s widest glacier and roughly the size of Florida. Thwaites, which already contributes 4% to global sea level rise, holds enough ice to raise sea levels by more than 2 feet. “This process of widespread, enormous seawater intrusion will increase the projections of sea level rise from Antarctica,” he added. Sea ice around Rothera Point, on Adelaide Island to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers also used climate models to predict the potential speed of recovery from such extreme sea ice loss and found that even after two decades, not all the ice will return.

Persons: West Antarctica —, It’s, Thwaites, glaciologists —, Irvine —, ”, Eric Rignot, Finland’s, Rignot, Ted Scambos, it’s, James Smith, Noel Gourmelen, Gourmelen, Steve Gibbs, ” Louise Sime Organizations: CNN, National Academy of Sciences, Global, University of California, UC Irvine, University of Colorado, British Antarctic Survey, University of Edinburgh, BAS Locations: West Antarctica, Florida, Irvine, Antarctica, University of Colorado Boulder, Thwaites, Rothera, Adelaide

☆ The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is rapidly melting. Scientists now have evidence for when it started and why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They have discovered it started retreating rapidly in the 1940s, according to a new study that provides an alarming insight into future melting. The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is the world’s widest and roughly the size of Florida. “Once an ice sheet retreat is set in motion it can continue for decades, even if what started it gets no worse,” he told CNN. While similar retreats have happened much further back in the past, the ice sheet recovered and regrew, Smith said. “Further events arising more from the warming climate trend took things further, and started the widespread retreat we’re seeing today,” he told CNN.

Persons: Antarctica’s, Thwaites, Joshua Stevens, Julia Wellner, that’s, ” Wellner, you’re, James Smith, “, ”, Smith, ” Thwaites, Jeremy Harbeck, NASA Ted Scambos, Martin Truffer, Truffer, — Organizations: CNN —, National Academy of Sciences, El, West, NASA, Observatory, University of Houston, CNN, British Antarctic Survey, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Alaska Locations: West Antarctica, Florida, Pine, Antarctica, University of Alaska Fairbanks, “

☆ Scientists drilled an ice core from Antarctica and were alarmed by what they found
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Evidence from a 2,000-foot-long ice core reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet shrank suddenly and dramatically around 8,000 years ago, according to new research — providing an alarming insight into how quickly Antarctic ice could melt and send sea levels soaring. Map showing the location of the Skytrain Ice Rise, part of the Ronne Ice Shelf, from where the ice core was taken. The ice core analyzed in the study was drilled from Skytrain Ice Rise located at the edge of the ice sheet, near the point where the ice starts to float and become part of the Ronne Ice Shelf. Inside the drilling tent at Skytrain Ice Rise, scientists preparing the drill for its next drop into the borehole. University of Cambridge/British Antarctic SurveyInsulated boxes full of ice cores being loaded into the Twin Otter aircraft, Skytrain Ice Rise, Antarctica.

Persons: Eric Wolff, “ We’ve, we’ve, Wolff, Ted Scambos, “, that’s, ” Wolff, Isobel Rowell, ”, David Thornalley, Thwaites, Scambos Organizations: CNN, West, Empire, Nature, University of Cambridge, University of Colorado, Ronne Ice Shelf, University of Cambridge / British Antarctic Survey, Ronne, Shelf, Twin, British Antarctic Survey, University College London Locations: Antarctica, University of Colorado Boulder, West Antarctica

☆ There's another missing submersible: A $3.6 million vessel mysteriously disappeared near Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The submersible was exploring the Thwaites Glacier to study its potential effects on sea-level rise. Ran's disappearance is a tragic loss for climate change research as scientists were using the autonomous machine to study the melting activity of Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier." AdvertisementThat's why Wåhlin and her team chose Ran to check out Thwaites Glacier because it's actively melting. The Thwaites Glacier is one of the largest in the world and could raise global sea levels significantly if it collapses entirely. AdvertisementA gigantic cavity nearly 1,000 feet tall growing at the bottom of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica.

Persons: Ran, Thwaites, It's, Anna Wåhlin, Olof Lönnehed, University of Gothenburg Ran, Wåhlin, NASA Thwaites, Louise Newman, Jeremy Harbeck, Aaron, Newman Organizations: University of Gothenburg, Service, Titan, NASA, University's Department of Marine Sciences Locations: Antarctica, West Antarctica

☆ Good news, bad news: U.S. emissions shrank last year, but very slowly
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Evan Bush | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Carbon emissions shrank in 2023 even as the economy grew, a sign the U.S. is plodding toward a more sustainable future. "This is the first time since 2019 that the economy has grown while emissions have fallen," said Ben King, an associate director leading the Rhodium Group energy team. U.S emissions fell sharply in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, when activities were restricted, and then rebounded in the two years that followed. The Biden administration, which rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement in 2021, said it would target emission cuts of 50% to 52% by 2030. The power and buildings sectors were responsible for the 2023 emissions decline, according to the Rhodium analysis.

Persons: Ben King, Biden, King, Joe Biden's Organizations: U.S, Stockholm Environment Institute, EV, U.S . Locations: Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, Paris, Stockholm, Greenland, West Antarctica, East Antarctica, U.S

☆ ‘It’s game on’: The world’s largest iceberg is on the move. Scientists explain why it matters
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"It's just astonishingly big and it's a reminder of how much risk we're at from sea level rise." "Antarctica has historically been quite a small contributor to sea level rise, but it is growing, and it is taking up a bigger and bigger share of the sea level rise that we see every year," he added. "So, it's a symbol of the growing dominance of Antarctica in the sea level rise equation." This temperature threshold is widely recognized as crucial because so-called tipping points become more likely beyond this level. Tipping points are thresholds at which small changes can lead to dramatic shifts in Earth's entire life support system.

Persons: Robbie Mallett, A23a, Mallett, Mallet, That's, Gail Whiteman, Taalas, Hollie Adams, NASA Modis Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Continent, University of College London, CNBC, United, NASA, World Meteorological Organization, University of Exeter, WMO, Expo, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Antarctica, New York City, United Arab Emirates, South Georgia, Dubai, COP28, Green

☆ The world's largest iceberg is now sailing away from Antarctica
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Sean Conlon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe world's largest iceberg is now sailing away from AntarcticaRecent satellite images show an iceberg roughly three times the size of New York City floating past the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. According to the British Antarctic Survey, the berg named A23a is now likely to be swept along by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current into 'iceberg alley.' Once hosting a Soviet research station, A23a split from West Antarctica's Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986.

Persons: berg, A23a, Antarctica's Organizations: British Antarctic Survey, Antarctic, Ronne Ice Shelf Locations: Antarctica, New York City, Soviet

☆ Clash Over Climate Tipping Points and Fossil Fuels’ Future at COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Matthew Dalton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This year is the hottest on record, and evidence is growing that climate systems are hitting dangerous tipping points. That backdrop is intensifying a fight over the future of fossil fuels that is set to dominate the annual United Nations climate conference over the next two weeks. New studies have found that several tipping points—from a collapse of Atlantic Ocean currents to drying of the Amazon rainforest—could be passed sooner than anticipated, some around the middle of this century. Loss of much of the West Antarctic ice sheet may already be unavoidable. Global temperatures, meanwhile, set record highs this year, the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization said Thursday.

Organizations: United Nations, Meteorological Organization Locations: United

[1/2] A satellite imagery of the world's largest iceberg, named A23a, seen in Antarctica, November 15, 2023. Courtesy of European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-3/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 - The world's largest iceberg is on the move for the first time in more than three decades, scientists said on Friday. At almost 4,000 square km (1,500 square miles), the Antarctic iceberg called A23a is roughly three times the size of New York City. This will funnel it toward the Southern Ocean on a path known as "iceberg alley" where others of its kind can be found bobbing in dark waters. "Over time it's probably just thinned slightly and got that little bit of extra buoyancy that's allowed it to lift off the ocean floor and get pushed by ocean currents," said Marsh.

Persons: berg, Oliver Marsh, it's, Gloria Dickie, Olga Vyshnevska, William Maclean Organizations: European, Copernicus, REUTERS Acquire, Antarctica's, Ronne Ice Shelf, British Antarctic Survey, Antarctic, Thomson Locations: Antarctica, New York City, Soviet, Weddell, A23a, South Georgia, South Africa, London

☆ A hidden feedback loop under Antarctica’s glaciers could accelerate sea level rise, scientists find
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Glaciers in East Antarctica could lose ice faster in the future than previously thought, scientists reported Friday, in an alarming feedback loop where glacier meltwater is triggering even more ice loss and sea level rise as the planet warms. Together, these and other recent studies paint a dire picture of a melting southern continent that poses extreme risk of life-altering sea level rise around the world. Friday’s study factored that feedback into simulations to see how much it could accelerate Antarctic melting and sea level rise. Measuring this phenomenon and accounting for it in climate models is necessary “to get a realistic picture of global sea level rise,” Greenbaum said. “Given this evidence, subglacial melt and discharge is a process that can no longer be ignored in future projections of Antarctica’s contribution to sea level rise,” De Rydt told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, it’s, ”, Jamin Greenbaum, Denman, Scott, Greenbaum, ” Greenbaum, Tyler Pelle, ” Pelle, Pelle, we’re, ” Jan De Rydt, ” De Rydt, “ Organizations: CNN, University of California San Diego’s Scripps, of Oceanography, Scripps, Northumbria University Locations: East Antarctica, Antarctica

The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change on Monday, found no matter the degree of warming this century, the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will speed up as warmer water in the Amundsen Sea erodes ice shelves bordering the ocean. These ice shelves buttress ice further inland, acting as a cork in a bottle that stops their flow into the ocean. The collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is one of nine global climate 'tipping points' scientists identified in 2009. If the ice sheet were to fully melt, average global sea levels would rise by more than a metre. Antarctic Sea ice saw its lowest maximum extent on record this winter.

Persons: Lauren Dauphin, Kaitlin Naughten, Tiago Segabinazzi Dotto, Gloria Dickie, Ros Russell Organizations: NASA, REUTERS, British Antarctic Survey, West, National Oceanography, Thomson Locations: Antarctica, Handout, Amundsen, London

☆ Climate change: Rapid melting of West Antarctica ice now 'unavoidable,' study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Rapid melting of West Antarctica’s ice shelves may now be unavoidable as human-caused global warming accelerates, with potentially devastating implications for sea level rise around the world, new research has found. Even if the world meets ambitious targets to limit global heating, West Antarctica will experience substantial ocean warming and ice shelf melting, according to the new study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. They act like buttresses, helping hold ice back on the land, slowing its flow into the sea and providing an important defense against sea level rise. While there has been growing evidence ice loss in West Antarctica may be irreversible, there has been uncertainty about how much can be prevented through climate policies. “The thing that’s depressing is the committed nature of sea level rise, particularly for the next century,” Scambos told CNN.

Persons: ”, Kaitlin Naughten, Naughten, ” Naughten, Ted Scambos, ” Scambos, Scambos, Tiago Segabinazzi Dotto, I’ve Organizations: CNN, British Antarctic Survey, University of Colorado Boulder, “, National Oceanography, Science Media Center Locations: West Antarctica, Antarctica

No matter how much the world cuts back on carbon emissions, a key and sizable chunk of Antarctica is essentially doomed to an “unavoidable” melt, a new study found. Researchers used computer simulations to calculate future melting of protective ice shelves jutting over Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea in western Antarctica. How much melting can still be prevented by reducing emissions?” said study lead author Kaitlin Naughten, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey. In each case, ocean warming was just too much for this section of the ice sheet to survive, the study found. That part of Antarctica “is doomed,” said University of California Irvine ice scientist Eric Rignot, who wasn’t part of the study.

Persons: ”, Kaitlin Naughten, it’s, Naughten, Eric Rignot, Ted Scambos, ” Naughten, Moon, Kate Marvel, ” ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: West, British Antarctic Survey, University of California, ” University of Colorado, Associated Press, Data, Twitter, AP Locations: Amundsen, Antarctica, ” West Antarctica, University of California Irvine

☆ Scientists finally finished mapping Earth's 8th continent Zealandia, helping them solve the lost continent's mysterious history
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter decades of work, a team of scientists has finally completed a map of Zealandia. But that didn't deter scientist Nick Mortimer, who led the team that's been studying Zealandia for over 20 years. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn a new study, the team finished mapping the final piece of the continent, the northeast corner. As a result, the scientists believe they've mapped Zealandia more thoroughly than any other continent on Earth. AdvertisementAdvertisementDecades of work establish Zealandia as a continentSome have argued Zealandia isn't a continent because so much of it lies below the water.

Persons: Zealandia, they've, —, It's, Nick Mortimer, that's, it's, Mortimer, quartzites, Simone Giovanardi Organizations: Service, GNS Science, Massey University Locations: Australia, New Zealand, South Zealandia, Fairway, Zealandia, New Caledonia, North Zealandia, Antarctica, South America, Africa, India, West Antarctica

☆ Antarctica is missing an Argentina-sized amount of sea ice – and scientists are scrambling to figure out why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Antarctic sea ice has fallen to unprecedented lows for this time of year. Every year, Antarctic sea ice shrinks to its lowest levels towards the end of February, during the continent’s summer. In mid-July, Antarctica’s sea ice was 2.6 million square kilometers (1 million square miles) below the 1981 to 2010 average. While natural climate variability affects the sea ice, many scientists say climate change may be a major driver for the disappearing ice. A lack of sea ice could also have significant impacts on its wildlife, including krill on which many of the region’s whales feed, and penguins and seals that rely on sea ice for feeding and resting.

Persons: Ted Scambos, ”, “, Scambos, ” Scambos, ’, Julienne, West, –, Thwaites, it’s Organizations: CNN, Northern, Data, University of Colorado, ”, Data Center, Southern Locations: Argentina, Texas , California, New Mexico , Arizona , Nevada , Utah, Colorado, University of Colorado Boulder, Antarctica

☆ Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are melting rapidly and driving sea level rise, new satellite data finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Earth’s ice sheets lost enough ice over the last 30 years to create an ice cube 12 miles high, according to new research. They found that ice sheet melting has increased six-fold over the past 30 years, as record levels of planet-heating pollution push up global temperatures. The worst year for ice sheet loss was 2019, the report found, when the ice sheets lost around 675 billion tons of ice. Ice sheet melting now accounts for a quarter of all sea level rise – a fivefold increase since the 1990s. Otosaka expects the Greenland ice sheet to continue losing ice, but said it’s not yet clear what might happen to the Antarctic ice sheet.

☆ Map shows the ice sheets and glaciers melting that scientists most fear will be the source of catastrophic rising sea levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Annie Fu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Melting ice that could tip sea level rise into catastrophic levelsSource: NASA Ice ViewerChart: Annie Fu/InsiderWhile it's easier to plan for a steady sea level rise, scientists are very concerned about what would happen if huge chunks of ice collapse and abruptly change sea levels. The Antarctic ice sheet is much bigger than the ice sheet on Greenland. If they were to melt totally, the Greenland ice sheet would contribute about 23 ft to the sea levels, while the Antarctic ice sheet holds enough ice to raise sea levels by 58 feet. Local sea level variationGlobal mean sea level rise is only a snapshot of the whole picture. Because sea levels are influenced by the local environment, the sea level rise can be much higher locally than it is on a global scale.

☆ Climate Change Is Real. Markets, Not Governments, Offer the Cure. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Bret Stephens | Mr. Stephens Is An Opinion Columnist. Mr. Winter Is A Staff Photographer On Assignment In Opinion. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +32 min

worse-case, highest-carbon-emission scenario.” (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the U.N. body that assesses climate change.) How do we weigh the risks of underreacting to climate change against the risks of overreacting to it? While he’s not an expert on climate change, he has spent decades thinking deeply about every manner of risk. That’s particularly true if climate change is akin to cancer — manageable or curable in its earlier stages, disastrous in its later ones. Maybe, I realized, in assessing my newfound concerns about climate change, my long-held beliefs might provide a solution — look to the market.

☆ 'Doomsday' glacier — which could raise sea levels by several feet if melted — is 'holding on by its fingernails' says new study
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-06 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A body of ice known as the "Doomsday Glacier" could melt faster than predicted, a new study says. The Thwaites Glacier protects the West Antarctic ice sheet, and researchers watch it closely. The melting of the Thwaites Glacier — which is around the size of Florida — could raise sea levels by up to two feet. A 3D-rendered view of the multibeam bathymetry (seafloor shape) colored by depth, collected by Rán across a seabed ridge, just in front of Thwaites Ice Shelf. Rán, a Kongsberg HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle, amongst sea ice in front of Thwaites Glacier, after a 20-hour mission mapping the seafloor.

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