The Warming Of Antarctica

The Warming Of Antarctica

By Dr Arvind Kumar

While focusing on the prospect of fossil fuel emissions trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly on Antarctica — the biggest chunk of ice on Earth in 1978, John H. Mercer, a prominent geologist at Ohio State University had already predicted: “If present trends in fossil fuel consumption continue... a critical level of warmth will have been passed in high southern latitudes 50 years from now, and deglaciation of West Antarctica will be imminent or in progress... One of the warning signs that a dangerous warming trend is under way in Antarctica will be the breakup of ice shelves on both coasts of the Antarctic Peninsula, starting with the northernmost and extending gradually southward.” Mercer’s prediction has come true, and eight ice shelves have fully or partially collapsed along the Antarctic Peninsula, and the northwestern Antarctic Peninsula has warmed faster than virtually any place on Earth.

The polar plateau routinely records temperatures of -70 or -80 degrees F in winter. So it will be quite some time before the heart of Antarctica’s ice begins to melt. The steady warming of periphery has the potential to raise global sea levels many feet and to affect global ocean circulation. The melting of Antarctica’s northernmost region — the Antarctic Peninsula — is already well underway, representing the first breach. Ninety percent of 244 glaciers along the western Antarctic Peninsula have retreated since 1940. Ice-dependent organisms, including certain species of phytoplankton, are declining where sea ice is disappearing. In the absence of remedial measures, further warming of Antartica can have devastating impact for entire humankind.