Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Ancient Ice Shelf Resilience Offers Hope Amid Climate Fears

1/29/2025

28 5

Summary

Cambridge Researchers Discover

A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Cambridge and British Antarctic Survey reveals that the Ronne Ice Shelf withstood a warm period over 120,000 years ago. This discovery raises hope that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet might be more resilient than feared, yet uncertainties about future sea level rise due to climate change linger ominously.

Summary

Antarctic Glaciers Retreat

Glaciers in Antarctica, especially in the Amundsen Sea, are facing alarming retreat due to warm ocean currents. This destabilization threatens ice sheets and could lead to a dramatic rise in sea levels. Notably, Denman Glacier's grounding line has pulled back 5.4 kilometers from 1996 to 2018, posing a potential 1.5-meter increase in global sea levels.

1 of 2

Cambridge Researchers Discover

A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Cambridge and British Antarctic Survey reveals that the Ronne Ice Shelf withstood a warm period over 120,000 years ago. This discovery raises hope that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet might be more resilient than feared, yet uncertainties about future sea level rise due to climate change linger ominously.

1 / 2