Tag: ice sheet collapse

Antarctic octopus DNA reveals ice sheet collapse closer than thought

By Issam AHMED Scientists investigating how Antarctica’s ice sheets retreated in the deep past have turned to an innovative approach: studying the genes of octopuses that live in its chilly waters. A new analysis published Thursday in Science finds that geographically-isolated populations of the eight-limbed sea creatures mated freely around 125,000 years ago, signaling an ice-free corridor during a period when global temperatures were similar to today. The findings suggest the West Antarctic Ice Sheet […]

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Runaway W. Antarctic ice sheet collapse not ‘inevitable’: study

by Kelly MACNAMARA Agence France Presse Paris, France (AFP) — The runaway collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet — which would trigger catastrophic sea level rise — is not “inevitable”, scientists said Monday following research that tracked the region’s recent response to climate change. As global temperatures rise, there is mounting concern that warming could trigger so-called tipping points that set off irreversible melting of the world’s massive ice sheets and ultimately lift oceans […]

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