Hundreds of polar scientists issue “Antarctic Emergency Alert”, Why? – detikcom

Hundreds of scientists held an emergency meeting in Australia to discuss the future of the increasingly endangered Atratika. This meeting resulted in an urgent warning.

This warning sends a strong message that the world should start taking action to prevent the melting of Antarctica. Because when Antarctica melts there will be a big rise in sea levels around the world.

Antarctic Scientists’ Emergency Warning Sounds

The urgent warning sound issued by polar scientists for Antarctica, as quoted from IFL Science, is:

Nowhere on Earth is the impact of sea level rise greater than East Antarctica. The East Antarctic ice sheet holds enough water to raise global water levels by around 50 meters if it melts completely. So our (the world’s) cities and coastal infrastructure are at risk.

Now, global warming in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic regions is considered normal. Even though the shift in ecosystems due to global warming that has been observed in the region is quite large.

Recent research shows that the minimum temperature for sea ice reaches 40 degrees Celsius above the average temperature. The reason for this is a large heat wave and increased instability around the main ice sheet.

Movements in terrestrial and marine ecosystems confirm that rapid transformation has taken place. This phenomenon has never happened before in this fragile region (East Antarctica).

Uncontrolled ice loss means that rapid and catastrophic sea level rise will be possible in our lifetime. Will the irreversible tipping point ever be over? Still unknown.

2024 Antarctica-Australia Research Conference

This emergency meeting was held at the 2024 Australia-Antarctic Research Conference held at the University of Tasmania, Hobart. This conference brings together nearly 500 polar experts from around the world.

The Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) explains that global sea levels have risen by 10.5 centimeters in the last 30 years. Climate change is the main reason why ice in Antarctica is melting.

At least Antarctica has lost about 17 million tons of ice, or the same as a large ice cube measuring 260 meters on each side every hour. It is believed that the rate of payment is growing faster.

This conclusion was compared with the results of satellite images of Antarctica. This satellite image shows that Antarctica is losing ice at a faster rate than 30 years ago.

Even the East Antarctic region, once considered relatively stable and immune to change, is beginning to show signs of significant change. Such as heat waves and mass melting events,

If the world continues to increase greenhouse gas emissions, Australia’s coastal cities are likely to see a sea level rise of 80 centimeters by 2100. AAPP says this rise is devastating .

So what can the world do? Just one, reduce greenhouse gas emissions deeply, quickly and sustainably.

If the carbon curve continues to rise and emissions do not decrease, present and future generations will experience more sea level rise. So this case can no longer be ignored.

“Our society needs to set and meet targets to bend the carbon curve as quickly as possible. If emissions are not rapidly reduced per year and per ton, current and future generations will future sea level rise. Every fraction of a degree matters,” concluded AAPP.

(date/your)