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Scientists in Chile question if Antarctica has hit a defining moment

Nearly 1,500 academics, scientists and scientists focusing on Antarctica collected in southern Chile for the 11th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research conference this week to share the most cuttingedge research study from the vast white continent.

Nearly every aspect of science, from geology to biology and glaciology to arts, was covered however a significant undercurrent ran through the conference. Antarctica is changing, faster than anticipated.

Extreme weather condition occasions in the ice-covered continent were no longer theoretical discussions, however first-hand accounts from researchers about heavy rains, extreme heat waves and sudden Foehn (strong dry winds) occasions at research study stations that caused mass melting, giant glacier break-offs and hazardous weather condition conditions with international implications.

With in-depth weather station and satellite data going back just about 40 years, scientists wondered whether these events suggested Antarctica had actually reached a tipping point, or a point of accelerated and irreparable sea ice loss from the West Antarctic ice sheet.

There's unpredictability about whether the current observations suggest a short-term dip or a downward plunge (of sea ice),. stated Liz Keller, a paleoclimate professional from the Victoria. University of Wellington in New Zealand that led a session about. predicting and discovering tipping points in Antarctica.

NASA approximates reveal the Antarctic ice sheet has enough ice. to raise the worldwide mean sea level by as much as 58 meters. Studies. have shown that about a third of the world's population lives. listed below 100 vertical meters of sea level.

While it is difficult to determine whether we've hit a point of. no return, Keller says that it's clear the rate of modification is. unprecedented.

You may see the very same increase in CO2 over thousands of years,. and now it's happened in 100 years, Keller stated.

Mike Weber, a paleooceanographer from Germany's University. of Bonn, who focuses on Antarctic ice sheet stability, says. sediment records going back 21,000 years show comparable periods. of accelerated ice melt.

The ice sheet has actually experienced comparable accelerated ice mass. loss at least eight times, Weber stated, with acceleration. starting over a few decades that kick off a stage of ice loss. that can last centuries, causing significantly greater sea. levels worldwide.

Weber states ice loss has actually gotten over the last decade, and. the concern is whether it's already kicked off a centuries-long. phase or not.

Possibly we're going into such a stage right now, Weber stated. If we are, a minimum of for now, there will be no stopping it.

KEEPING EMISSIONS LOW

While some state the climate changes are already secured,. researchers concurred that the worst case scenarios can still be. prevented by dramatically lowering nonrenewable fuel source emissions.

Weber states the earth's crust rebounds in response to. pulling away glaciers and their decreasing weight could balance. out water level increase, and new research published weeks ago shows. that a balance is still possible if the rate of modification is slow. enough. If we keep emissions low, we can stop this eventually, stated. Weber. If we keep them high, we have a runaway situation and we. can refrain from doing anything.

Mathieu Casado, a paleoclimate and polar meteorologist at. France's Environment and Environment Sciences Lab,. concentrates on studying water isotopes to rebuild historic. temperature levels.

Casado said information from dozens of ice cores collected. throughout the ice sheet has actually permitted him to rebuild. temperature patterns in Antarctica dating back 800,000 years.

Casado's research showed that the current temperature level rise. in the last fifty years was clearly outdoors natural irregularity,. highlighting the function of market in producing carbon emissions. that drive climate modification.

He added that the last time the Earth was this warm was. 125,000 years back and sea levels were 6 to 9 meters higher with. quite a bit of contribution for West Antarctica.

Temperature level and co2 were historically at. stability and well balanced each other out, Casado stated, but we. currently have much higher levels of CO2 and are far from. stability.

Casado and other scientists kept in mind the speed and amount at. which carbon is being pumped into the atmosphere is. unmatched.

Gino Casassa, a glaciologist and head of Chilean Antarctic. Institute, said that present price quotes reveal water level rising by. 4 meters by 2100 and more if emissions continue to grow.

What happens in Antarctica does not stay in Antarctica,. said Casassa, including that international climatic, ocean and weather. patterns are connected to the continent.

Antarctica isn't simply an ice refrigerator separated from the. rest of the world that has no impact.

(source: Reuters)