Antarctic Ice is Melting Because of a Phenomenon Not Seen for 7,000 Years – Newsweek
Article Synopsis – For the first time in 7,000 years, a phenomenon known as “upwelling” (the upward flow of warmer ocean water to the surface), is thought to have caused recent ice shelf collapse around Antarctica. The Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) is about 3⁰C above the melting point of ice. Normally, the very cold water above keeps this away from ice shelves, but in some areas, CDW is spilling onto the shallow Antarctic continental shelf, causing the ice to thin. The cause of this upwelling is still being investigated, but evidence is suggesting a link between atmospheric warming and the position of the southern hemisphere westerly winds (SHWW). These winds are thought to drive circulation of the warmer deep water. To read the actual article click here.