Where is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet?
The Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is the segment of the continental ice sheet that covers West Antarctica, the portion of Antarctica on the side of the Transantarctic Mountains that lies in the Western Hemisphere.
Is the West Antarctic ice sheet disintegrating?
If this condition is general, the West Antarctic ice sheet is disintegrating along the Siple Coast as a result of surging ice streams and is recovering along the Transantarctic Mountains as a result of thickening outlet glaciers.
What would happen if West Antarctica melted?
If all the ice covering Antarctica , Greenland, and in mountain glaciers around the world were to melt, sea level would rise about 70 meters (230 feet). The ocean would cover all the coastal cities. And land area would shrink significantly. But many cities, such as Denver, would survive.
Who owns West Antarctica?
People from all over the world undertake research in Antarctica, but Antarctica is not owned by any one nation. Antarctica is governed internationally through the Antarctic Treaty system. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries who had scientists in and around Antarctica at the time.
How thick are Antarctic icecaps?
The mean thickness of the Antarctic ice sheet is 2.16 km. The maximum known thickness of the ice sheet is 4,776 m in Terre Adélie. Without the its ice, Antarctica may be the lowest lying continent.
What is under Antarctic ice sheet?
The lakes grow and shrink beneath the ice. Scientists have discovered two new lakes buried deep beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. These hidden gems of frigid water are part of a vast network of ever-changing lakes hidden beneath 1.2 to 2.5 miles (2 to 4 kilometers) of ice on the southernmost continent.
Is Antarctica smaller than Australia?
Antarctica is bigger than Europe and almost double the size of Australia. Most of Antarctica is covered in ice over 1.6 kilometres thick (1 mile).
What is current sea level?
In 2020, global sea level set a new record high—91.3 mm (3.6 inches) above 1993 levels. The rate of sea level rise is accelerating: it has more than doubled from 0.06 inches (1.4 millimeters) per year throughout most of the twentieth century to 0.14 inches (3.6 millimeters) per year from 2006–2015.
Which 2 ice shelves are the largest in Antarctica?
Ice shelves are common around Antarctica, and the largest ones are the Ronne-Filchner, Ross and McMurdo Ice Shelves. Ice shelves surround 75% of Antarctica’s coastline, and cover an area of over 1.561 million square kilometres (a similar size to the Greenland Ice Sheet).