Warning that Antarctic ice sheet a 'sleeping giant'
New research has led to a warning from a leading Antarctic expert that the world is on track for massive sea level rises resulting from the melting of an ice sheet.
The research, involving Victoria University of Wellington scientists, has revealed that if carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue increasing as predicted, the giant East Antarctic ice sheet will melt.
"Our study shows that this ice sheet becomes unstable and melts if carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reach 600 parts per millionlevels which may be reached by the end of the century if emissions reductions targets agreed to recently in Paris are not met," says Professor Tim Naish, Director of Victoria University's Antarctic Research Centre.
"If the Antarctic ice sheet completely melted, global sea level would rise about 60 metres. It's a sleeping giant."
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-antarctic-ice-sheet-giant.html#jCp