Antarctica / Threatened with ice collapse the size of California

Scientists are particularly worried about the effects of climate change in Antarctica, because they have just discovered that a huge chunk of ice the size of California may collapse.

According to livescience.com, this is the Wilkes Basin in East Antarctica, with a slope that extends 1,400 km inland and contains ice 3 km thick. If it melts, it could raise sea levels by three meters, which means catastrophic consequences for the entire planet.

A related study was published Jan. 19 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, and according to first author Eliza Dawson, a doctoral student in geophysics at Stanford University, the discovery was made by radar from planes flying over the area to check for ice.

“We’re looking at the temperature at the base of the ice sheet for the first time and how close it is to melting,” he said, adding that if small temperature increases continue to build up under the ice, the leading edge could break off and collapse.

Source Newsbeast