The glaciers in Antarctica, essential for ice stability, could become unstable due to climate change, raising sea levels by up to 10 meters.

The ice shelves in Antarctica, floating extensions of the ice sheet, act as natural barriers, slowing the flow of land ice into the ocean. Their stability is crucial, as their collapse accelerates the loss of ice from the continent, contributing to rising sea levels. Researchers have analyzed the combined effects of ice melting caused by atmospheric and oceanic conditions, discovering that loss of stability occurs when melting exceeds the reaccumulation of ice. In high-emission scenarios, up to 38 of the 64 main ice shelves could become unstable by 2300. However, most would remain intact if global warming is limited to below 2 degrees Celsius. A collapse of these ice shelves could lead to a global sea level rise of up to 10 meters. The authors of the study emphasize the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect coastlines and warn that destabilization could occur sooner than estimates suggest.