Essay on Tipping Points Regarding Climate Change: The Antarctic Ice Sheet

The Antarctic ice sheet is approaching an important threshold at a fast pace, beyond which the loss of ice could become uncontrollable. According to “The Conversation” journal, this anticipated turning point would be around 2060 at the present rate of emissions and could push global sea levels beyond their tipping points leading to catastrophic consequences for the world economy and vulnerable low-lying coastal communities.

The major concern here is the breakdown of the West Antarctic ice cap that may result from disintegration of floating ice shelves and increased flow rates towards the ocean. Such a collapse would raise global sea levels by over 200 feet in time scales sparking after centuries or even millennia.

These ice shelves in Antarctica are however essential for slowing down the movement of ice into the ocean that stabilizes it. Nevertheless, warming temperatures can weaken these shelves from above such that they become thinner and tend to break apart catastrophically. Thus, recent regional Southern Ocean warming patterns and changes in circulation have led to thinning as well as unpinning throughout increasing exposure to fracturing fronts.

In order to prevent reaching this threshold it is crucial for the world to take action to reduce carbon emissions and preserve Antarctica as a solid ice clad landmass. Even the smallest temperature increase holds significance. Surpassing a 2°C global warming limit is not a scenario, for coastal regions or the worldwide economy. 

Relying on solutions to revert back to normalcy is merely an illusion emphasizing the necessity for present policies that prioritize long term considerations to prevent irreversible consequences on Antarctica's ice and the planet.

Sources

• https://theconversation.com/antarctica-is-headed-for-a-climate-tipping-point-by-2060-with-catastrophic-melting-if-carbon-emissions-arent-cut-quickly-160978 

• https://www.hindustantimes.com/environment/antarctica-closing-in-on-a-tipping-point-if-emissions-aren-t-curbed-scientists-101621465895564.html 

• https://bonpote.com/en/antarctica-an-inevitable-climate-tipping-point/ 

• Antarctic tipping points https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/publication/antarctic-tipping-points/ va

• Antarctic tipping points: the irreversible changes https://theconversation.com/antarctic-tipping-points-the-irreversible-changes-to-come-if-we-fail-to-keep-warming-below-2-207410 

By Mika Rodríguez and Sofía López, Step 11