A melting Antarctica is extremely alarming, and this past February, our southernmost continent saw the hottest days on record, reaching a staggering 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists saw rapid melting and less than a week later, a massive block of ice, weighing thousands of tons, collapsed into the water from the William Glacier.
These changes are worrisome and we should all be concerned about the future of Antarctica. It is becoming more common for the continent to see warmer days and because of this, it is losing tons of ice and if it continues to see rapid melting, it'll have huge consequences for our planet.
Antarctica's transformation from the start of the decade to now is upsetting and not only is the continent suffering, so are the animals that call it home. Antarctica is supposed to be the home of the coldest place on Earth, but the recent warm temperatures are scary. Here are 10 photos that show the continent's transformation over the years that are just heartbreaking.
10 Antarctica's Transformation From The Start Of The Decade To Now Is Scary
When we think about Antarctica, our southernmost continent, we immediately think about how its ice and glaciers continue to melt at rapid speeds, how the animals that call it home are being affected by changing temperatures, and how persistent warm weather is now a common thing. It is a fact that Antarctica is melting and sadly, its future does not look bright.
9 The Continent Continues To Lose Ice
Unlike the Arctic, which is seeing rapid changes and ice loss thanks to climate change, Antarctica is surrounded by an ocean that helps isolate it from the interference of warm-air intrusions. However, that does not mean it is safe from losing ice. Antarctica is getting warmer each day and has already lost billions of tons of ice.
8 Glaciers Are Undergoing Rapid Melting
In February of this year, scientists witnessed a huge block of ice estimated to weigh thousands of tons split and collapse into the water from the William Glacier. The Hill reported that the split occurred less than a week the continent recorded its hottest temperature ever when it hit a staggering 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
7 Ice Shelves Are Shrinking
Scientists have witnessed an unprecedented number of ice shelves collapsing over the past years in Antarctica due to climate change. Floating ice shelves slow the flow of glaciers that are behind them, but when they collapse, glaciers that fed into the ice shelves speed up, flowing into the sea and contributing to sea-level rise.
6 Rising Global Temperatures Are Hurting Antarctica
A study in 2018 found in Nature reported that between 1992 to 2002, total estimated ice loss was about 43 gigatons per year, but that has rapidly changed to 220 gigatons per year between 2012 and 2017. Rising temperatures are harming out southern continent and a result of melting continental Antarctic ice could contribute to a global sea-level rise.
Related: 13 Alarming Images Of Glaciers Melting (12 People Who Don't Care)
5 City-Size Icebergs Are Breaking Off
In February 2020, an iceberg triple the size of San Francisco broke off of Pine Island, one of the fastest retreating glaciers on Antarctica. While the loss of ice chunks happens to glaciers, with Pine Island calving every four to six years, they are now seeing glacier calving events occur almost annually.
4 Animals Living In The Antarctic Are The Most Vulnerable
Changing temperatures and melting ice is sadly affecting the animals that call Antarctica home. A study from Frontiers in Marine Science explained that penguins and krill are among the most vulnerable to climate change and retreating sea ice. The emperor penguin's chances of survival do not look good since they include krill in their diet and need ice shelves to breed.
Related: 10 Photos That Show The Creepy Side Of Ireland
3 Ice Loss Is Accelerating
Antarctica is losing about 250 billion tons of ice annually and in time, West Antarctica's ice shelves will crumble, causing sea levels to rise drastically. A study revealed that if global warming causes these ice shelves to collapse, sea level could rise by three feet by 2100 and upwards to 50 feet by 2500 from the melting ice alone.
2 Even Its Coldest Regions Aren't Looking Good
The coldest spot on Earth is East Antarctica and even that region is seeing glaciers and ice shelves starting to melt. Scientists had believed that this portion of the continent would be stable and untouchable, but today, they are seeing signs of ice loss. While it will take thousands of years for the Antarctic to melt, the continent will add more than three feet to sea level by the mid-22nd century.
Related: 20 Creepy Photos That Were Captured In Antarctica
1 Heat Waves Are Melting Snow In A Matter Of Days
A melting Antarctica is a sad reality we are all facing. These photos prove that the southern continent is facing drastic changes that will affect us in a tremendous way. Climate change is resulting in melting ice shelves and glaciers and animals are on the verge of extinction. To help protect it, the least we can all do is to reduce our CO2 emissions.
Next: 15 Countries With The Scariest Climate (10 We Could Sunbathe All Year Round)