Antarctica Gains 216 Billion Tons of Ice, Surprising Climate Scientists
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📰 The quick summary: Antarctica’s eastern region experienced a surprising ice gain of 216 billion tons over a recent two-year period, potentially slowing sea level rise by offsetting about one quarter of the total rise seen during the previous decade.
📈 One key stat: 108 gigatons of average ice sheet mass gain per year from 2021 to 2023 in Antarctica’s Wilkes Land and Queen Mary Land region shows climate patterns can temporarily reverse, offsetting 0.3 millimeters of sea level rise annually.
💬 One key quote: “The southern continent has offered a surprise that, literally speaking, the worst effects of climate change actually can be delayed and reversed.“
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists have discovered an unexpected reversal in Antarctica’s ice patterns, with East Antarctica gaining 216 billion tons of ice over a two-year period. This surprising find contradicts the previous decade’s trend where Antarctic ice sheets lost an average of 147 gigatons annually. Researchers from Tongji University used data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite missions to measure these changes in four glacier basins. The ice gain occurred despite global temperatures reaching record highs during this period, demonstrating the complexity of Earth’s climate systems.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This substantial ice gain directly impacts sea level projections by potentially offsetting about 0.3 millimeters of sea level rise per year. Such a reversal offers hope that some climate change effects aren’t irreversible and can be naturally mitigated under certain conditions. Four major glacier basins – Totten, Moscow University, Denman, and Vincennes – all contributed to this positive trend. Unusually high precipitation in the region created this unexpected benefit, showing that natural variations can sometimes work in our favor against the backdrop of larger climate challenges.
3️⃣ What’s next: Scientists need to continue monitoring whether this trend of refreezing has continued beyond 2023 or reversed again. Further research will determine if this ice gain was an anomaly or might recur under specific precipitation conditions. Scientists caution against assuming this pattern will simply continue, as seasonal variations have previously shown both gains and losses.
Read the full story here: Good News Network – Antarctica Gained 200 Billion Tons of Ice During Recent Two-Year Period, Surprising Scientists
