New Victim of Climate Change Revealed: East Antarctic Ice [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Published on Thursday, August 29, 2013 by Common Dreams

New Victim of Climate Change Revealed: East Antarctic Ice

Study: 'Widespread, synchronous changes' in world's biggest ice sheet could pose threat to global sea levels

- Andrea Germanos, staff writer

A new study reveals that the world's largest ice sheet, previously thought to be at little risk from climate change, has undergone rapid changes in the past five decades, signaling a potential threat to global sea levels.

The East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) holds enough water to raise sea levels over 50 meters.

Using declassified spy satellite data from 1963 to 2012, researchers from the University of Durham looked at 175 glaciers along the ocean margins of the ice sheet and found "widespread and synchronous changes" consistent with climate change.

"We've shown for the first time that these glaciers are in concert with climate," Chris Stokes, a professor of geography at Durham University and an lead researcher of the paper, told LiveScience.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/08/29-5