Research by Abu Dhabi scientists sheds light on why Antarctica is melting
Climate change is a factor in the loss of ice over Antarctica, which could contribute to significant sea-level rise around the globe
Researchers in the UAE have released findings that could help scientists better understand the factors that are causing Antarctic ice to melt.
Two studies led by scientists at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi shed light on a subject that is of critical importance to the future of the planet.
“In our studies, we identified the atmospheric processes that are triggering and contributing to the ice melt,” Diana Francis, head of Khalifa University’s Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Lab and author of the studies, told The National.
She said that these processes have been increasing in frequency and intensity since 2000, with the causes of both attributed to warmer global temperatures.
Antarctica is far from our region but ultimately the ice melt there would impact the sea-level rise globally, especially coastal countries like the UAE
“Antarctica is far from our region but ultimately the ice melt there would impact the sea-level rise globally and especially coastal countries like the UAE,” Dr Francis added.
Antarctica holds about 60 per cent of the freshwater in the world and about 90 per cent of Earth’s ice.
At over 14 million square kilometres and 2km thick, the Antarctic ice sheet is the biggest ice block in the world.
One of the new studies looks at the Pine Island Glacier, which flows into a bay in West Antarctica.
Pine Island is Antarctica’s fastest-melting glacier, accounting for a quarter of its ice loss.
Dr Francis said its melting could “destabilise the whole West Antarctica ice sheet”.
Read full article here: https://www-thenationalnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/06/18/research-by-abu-dhabi-scientists-sheds-light-on-why-antarctica-is-melting/?outputType=amp
