Why is Antarctica melting faster than expected is good news?

Melting speed is increasing very fast compared to what was previously calculated. But in return, another effect can help us fight this process more effectively.

The earth warms, and as a result the ice in the poles is melting. We still know that, and are looking for ways to overcome it.

But according to a recent study, Antarctic ice melted out faster than what science had expected. Research has suggested that the growth rate of ice has increased over the past 5 years.

The growth rate of ice has increased over the past 5 years.

Specifically, the researchers realized that the geologic plaques below the West Antarctic - specifically the Amundsen Gulf (ASE) - are rising rapidly. Although the wire is only a small area, the melting ice here accounts for about a quarter of the planet's total ice melt.

"The amount of water stored in Antarctica has an impact on the global scale, but the strongest is still in the Nordic region" - research author Dr. Valentina Barletta from the Danish Technical University said.

"Due to the effect of gravity , melting ice in Antarctica will increase the Nordic waters. In contrast, the melting ice in Greenland will increase the waters of the Southern Hemisphere."

According to Barletta, previous studies have underestimated the rate of ice melting in Antarctica, about 10% lower than the actual number. While it may sound intimidating, experts say this is good news, at least for cities that are lying below sea level.

The reason is because the ice is very heavy, and they can "press" the Earth's crust below a little deeper. When the ice melts, the mass disappears and the crust gradually rises. And then, low-altitude cities can be pushed a little higher.

Previous studies have suggested that this process is very slow. Scandinavia in Northern Europe, for example, has only raised about 10mm / year since 10,000 years ago - the time when the ice age ended. So, even if the land is raised, it cannot be compared to the sea level rise.

However, Barletta's research offers a different result. Using data from 6 GPS stations around ASE, the Earth's crust here is up to 41mm / year, which is 5 times higher than the previously estimated level.

A GPS station in Antarctica.

This study also made other research results ineffective. Usually in remote geographic areas like this, science is forced to rely on satellite parameters. And after adding gravity (less ice, gravity also decreases), the result has been published.

According to Barletta, the amount of ice at ASE increased faster than elsewhere, in part because there was too much ice under the sea. Increasing ocean currents make ice melt faster. But if the Earth's crust floats just enough, it can block seawater flow and cause ice speed to slow down for centuries.

Currently, it is still too early to think whether this effect could prevent the freezing of ASE, or if it applies to other regions. But at least the scenario of sea level rise is not so dark as we imagine.