Nature World Today

Nature's Best Site

Antarctica’s Basin Provides Fail-Safe to Rising Sea Levels

by 2,456 Comments

In West Antarctica, scientists predict that ice-sheet collapse could raise global sea levels by 3 meters in the coming centuries. But despite the grim (and what seems inevitable) outlook, researchers are documenting a result of the melting that may temporarily slow the collapse. As the ice melts the weight it exerts on the underlying crust—the bedrock beneath West Antarctica—eases, causing the crust to rise rapidly, Katie Langin reports in Science. Some spots could see the crust rise 8 meters over the coming century, which may protect the ice from the warm seawater melting it from below.

Currently, the West Antarctic sheet lies far below sea level in the form of a giant basin that slopes inland to a depth of more than a kilometer. As warming ocean erodes the glaciers that are snagged on ridges in the sea floor, seawater will pour into the basin, lifting ice off the bedrock. “It may just buy the world a few extra decades,” says Rick Aster, a seismologist and an author of the new study. Geophysicist Natalya Gomez modeled the process, finding that rising bedrock might slow ice retreat by raising the bowl and the ridges that stabilize the glaciers. How effective the process is depends on how fast it takes place, a factor of how hot and gooey the underlying mantle is, Langin explains.

Geophysicist Valentina Barletta led a team that tracked changes in elevation using six GPS sensors fixed to the bedrock in locations around the Amundsen Sea. They noticed soon after how quickly the basin was rising, in some places more than 4 centimeters per year. Still, glaciologist Ted Scambos cautions against premature relief. “It’s not a get out jail free card,” he warns. “It’s more of a refinement on the pace of [ice sheet] collapse.”

Editorial content

Reader Interactions

Comments

  107. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your
    weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see
    a great blog like this one today.

  109. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.

    I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting
    things or tips. Maybe you can write next articles referring to
    this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

  145. Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look.
    I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this
    to my followers! Wonderful blog and amazing design and style.

  147. You’ve made some good points there. I looked on the net to learn more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

  149. Hi there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
    web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.

    Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a fair price?

    Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

  156. I will right away grab your rss as I can’t find your
    email subscription link or newsletter service.

    Do you have any? Kindly let me know in order that I could subscribe.
    Thanks.

  160. You made some decent points there. I looked on the net to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.

  162. Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one!
    It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same page
    layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!

  165. I will right away clutch your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter
    service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me understand so that I may subscribe.
    Thanks.

  167. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time
    to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I may just
    I wish to counsel you some attention-grabbing issues or tips.
    Perhaps you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.

    I want to read more issues approximately it!

  169. Ahaa, its nice dialogue concerning this article here at this weblog, I have read all that,
    so at this time me also commenting at this place.

  172. Ahaa, its good dialogue on the topic of this paragraph
    here at this webpage, I have read all that, so now me also commenting at this place.

  174. I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all
    webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever
    before.

  181. It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is
    time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want
    to suggest you some interesting things or tips. Maybe you
    could write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read more things about it!

  183. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with
    browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
    The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon.
    Cheers

  187. I simply could not go away your site prior to suggesting that I
    actually loved the standard info an individual supply in your visitors?
    Is going to be again often to inspect new posts

  192. Everyone loves what you guys are up too. This sort of clever work
    and coverage! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to our blogroll.

  197. We absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
    Does one offer guest writers to write content available for
    you? I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write
    related to here. Again, awesome web log!

  341. Sie vererben verlieren den monumentalen den gro?ten Teil der freien Bonusse vor Konferenz die Wettanforderungen. Aber wenn Sie gunstig viel sind, um Geld, wird die Vergutung beendet , dann mussen, gepostet der MEISTEN UMGEWANDELTEN WERT-Regel zu sein. Coextensive with Wenn Sie mit einem Wert von Bonus von mehr als 500 $ beenden, haben Sie zum gro?ten Teil darf nicht mehr als $50-$100 zuruckziehen.

    Eine weitere meistens ist der erlaubte Einsatz von Maximum. Wenn das Casino den gro?ten Einsatz beim Spielen mit einem Bonus festlegt, mussen nicht ubertreffen. Auf andere Weise, das Casino Engagement unterhalten und eine Bitte zu verweigern um dich sogar die Punktzahl auszahlen zu lassen. Und die die bessere der Casinos wirklich wird verwenden diese Ausrede. Seien Sie au fait, dass diese Beseitigung nicht durch das Casino – Muster durchgesetzt wird, so ist es Es liegt an Ihnen, die Geschaftsbedingungen von Extra sorgfaltig zu uberfliegen.

    wie lange haben die geschafte an heiligabend offen

    Die Modell Uberwachung, die nicht spater als von einigen Casinos angewendet wird, ist, dass Sie zu mussen haben werden gedeihen eine Einzahlung vor unmodisch einlosen Ihr kein Plunk down Bonus. Ich davon dass Casinos dies als eine weitere Beschreibung der Verifizierung nutzen. Aber seien Sie aufmerksam, denn manche Casinos sich anzustrengen, um Sie zu auszutricksen und Armverdrehung Sie mit dieser “Verifizierung Vorauszahlung” zu mitmachen. Jeder erkundigen auf flammend gabfest, um spuren zu machen sicher Sie erklaren den Geschaftsbedingungen hoflich – und befreien Sie das Gesprach.

  350. [url=https://bestcialis20cost.monster/]cialis|buy cialis|generic cialis|cialis pills|buy cialis online|cialis for sale[/url]

  364. [url=https://onlineviagramedicationwithoutprescription.quest/]can you buy viagra over the counter in europe[/url]

  799. can you buy premarin over the counter [url=https://premarin.online/]cheapest place to buy premarin cream[/url] is premarin over the counter