The retreat of this icy colossus could affect a large part of the marine ecosystem.
Much of the planet's icy surface is divided between Antarctica and the Arctic. These places, where in addition to being able to enjoy spectacular northern lights and observe some of the largest animals that have ever existed, are the objective of various expeditions and satellites, which seek a way to understand how the climate change affects the environment. And we don't have good news.
The dangerous retreat of the Isla Pine glacier
One of the most responsible for the rise in sea level are the glaciers, specifically its movement and its thaw. A recent investigation, published in the media European Geosciences Uniontells us about how Pine Island glacier ice is retreating and losing so drastically in recent times that it represents a great threat for sea level rise.
And this is how it moves ? ? 8 years in 8 seconds, Pine Island Glacier 2015-2023.
One of the largest ice streams in #Antarctica and fastest melting glacier via 87 @CopernicusEU #Sentinel1 ?️ pic.twitter.com/xEBRX7suhe
— Iban Ameztoy (@i_ameztoy) May 1, 2023
Before the 1940sthis glacier was much more extensive, with its support line, the point that divides the part of the glacier that floats and the part that is in contact with the Earth's surface, located 40 kilometers further than it is today. Due to changes in climatewhereby warmer waters help melt the bottom of the glacier, a fracture opened the glacier and separated it from the continent since late 1970s.
In this visual, watch as ocean ? currents flow around and under Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica. As the water makes its way underneath the ice shelf, it erodes the ice shelf from the bottom causing it to become thinner. #SeeingTheSeas pic.twitter.com/Hof5lFjTMe
—NASAOcean (@NASAOcean) November 6, 2020
From here on, a progressive retreat of the glacier and it has been concluded that the events that happened between 1940 and 1970 were irreversible. And what does this mean? That even if the ocean cooled, something that does not seem likely to happen, this would not serve to stop the loss of mass from the Pine Island glacier.
Experts say that if there is a significant increase in melting at the base of a glacier, it can retreat to a inflection pointfrom which although the conditions are reversed, nothing can be done to stop the disappearance of the frozen dough. That is why raising awareness about caring for the planet and the effects of climate change is truly important, to avoid completely changing the panorama at the poles.