Antarctic ice: Difference between revisions
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[[File:antarcticice.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. Antarctica as viewed from space.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Antarktyda_i_Antarktyka.jpg</ref>]] | [[File:antarcticice.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. Antarctica as viewed from space (2005).<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Antarktyda_i_Antarktyka.jpg</ref>]] | ||
<onlyinclude>'''Antarctic ice''' makes up a large portion of the geography in the great continent of Antarctica. With [[global warming]] effects becoming noticeable worldwide, one of the main concerns of scientists is to study the world's large bodies of ice, in order to observe [[ice melt|melting ice]] and [[rising sea level]]s.</onlyinclude> The Antarctic ice sheet is of particular concern as the world gets warmer. | <onlyinclude>'''Antarctic ice''' makes up a large portion of the geography in the great continent of Antarctica. With [[global warming]] effects becoming noticeable worldwide, one of the main concerns of scientists is to study the world's large bodies of [[ice]], in order to observe [[ice melt|melting ice]] and [[rising sea level]]s.</onlyinclude> The Antarctic ice sheet is of particular concern as the world gets warmer. | ||
==Features== | ==Features== | ||
Effects of [[climate change]] are discussed below, however it is first important to understand the features of Antarctic ice and how it differs from other ice sheets worldwide, most notably [[Arctic sea ice]]. | Effects of [[climate change]] are discussed below, however it is first important to understand the features of '''Antarctic''' ice and how it differs from other ice sheets worldwide, most notably [[Arctic sea ice]]. | ||
===Thickness and Mobility=== | ===Thickness and Mobility=== | ||
Antarctica is a land mass which is surrounded by an [[ocean]]. The open ocean allows the forming sea ice to move more freely, which results in higher drift speeds than compared to [[Arctic sea ice| Arctic]] sea ice.<ref name=RE1>"All About Sea Ice | Arctic vs. Antarctic | National Snow and Ice Data Center", National Snow & Ice Data Center, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/seaice/characteristics/difference.html. [Accessed: 12- May- 2016].</ref> The mobility of Antarctic ice means that it does not have the opportunity to grow as thick as sea ice in the Arctic. As a result, sea ice does not stay in the Antarctic as long as it does in the Arctic. | Antarctica is a land mass which is surrounded by an [[ocean]]. The open ocean allows the forming sea ice to move more freely, which results in higher drift speeds than compared to [[Arctic sea ice|Arctic]] sea ice.<ref name=RE1>"All About Sea Ice | Arctic vs. Antarctic | National Snow and Ice Data Center", National Snow & Ice Data Center, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/seaice/characteristics/difference.html. [Accessed: 12- May- 2016].</ref> The mobility of Antarctic ice means that it does not have the opportunity to grow as thick as sea ice in the Arctic. As a result, sea ice does not stay in the Antarctic as long as it does in the Arctic. | ||
While thickness varies significantly within both regions, Antarctic ice is typically 1 to 2 meters thick, while most of the Arctic is covered by sea ice 2 to 3 meters thick. Some Arctic regions are covered with ice that is 4 to 5 meters in thickness.<ref name=RE1/> | While thickness varies significantly within both regions, Antarctic ice is typically 1 to 2 meters thick, while most of the Arctic is covered by sea ice 2 to 3 meters thick. Some Arctic regions are covered with ice that is 4 to 5 meters in thickness.<ref name=RE1/> | ||
===Seasonal variance=== | ===Seasonal variance=== | ||
Since there is no land boundary | Since there is no land boundary north of Antarctica, the sea ice is free to float in the northern direction into warmer waters where it eventually melts. As a result, almost all of the sea ice that forms during the Antarctic winter melts during the summer and reforms during the winter season. During the winter, there is approximately 18 million km<sup>2</sup> of ocean is covered by sea ice, but by the end of summer, roughly 3 million km<sup>2</sup> of sea ice remains.<ref name=RE1/> | ||
In the Antarctic, the ocean currents and winds tend to flow around the continent from west to east, which acts like a barrier | In the Antarctic, the ocean currents and winds tend to flow around the continent from west to east, which acts like a barrier that blocks warmer [[air]] and water from the north.<ref name=RE1/> However, Antarctica is entirely surrounded by ocean which means that moisture is more readily available.<Ref name=RE1/> Antarctic sea ice tends to be covered by thicker snow, which may accumulate to the point that the weight of snow pushes the ice below sea level, known as a "negative freeboard".<ref>T. Maksym & M. O. Jeffries (2000). (Accessed June 22, 2026). ''A one-dimensional percolation model of flooding and snow ice formation on Antarctic sea ice'' [Online]. Available: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2000JC900130</ref> When the ice is pushed below sea level, the snow becomes flooded by salty ocean waters.<ref name=RE1/> This salty snow-ice alters the growth and structure of the ice.<ref>Cambridge University (2017). (Accessed June 22, 2026). ''Effects of the snow cover on Antarctic sea ice and potential modulation of its response to climate change'' [Online]. Available: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annals-of-glaciology/article/effects-of-the-snow-cover-on-antarctic-sea-ice-and-potential-modulation-of-its-response-to-climate-change/751F4956F650BA7452A281A36E62FBA3</ref> | ||
==Impacts of climate change on Antarctic Ice== | ==Impacts of climate change on Antarctic Ice== | ||
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A rise in [[temperature]] isn’t sufficient enough to cause drastic melting in the Antarctic due to it’s ocean and [[wind]] currents that barricade warmer air. Scientists predict little change in the ice sheets in the next 50 years.<ref name=RE2/> The critical region in Antarctica that is currently being discussed is the Antarctic Peninsula, which has shown a dynamic response in recent times. The Antarctic Peninsula receives 28% of the continents snowfall and experiences warmer temperatures than the rest of the continent.<ref name=RE2/> Researchers state that a rise in temperature is expected to cause the ice shelves in the western peninsula to break off, however this has no direct impact on [[sea level rise]] nor does it indicate changes in the ice sheets.<ref name=RE2/> | A rise in [[temperature]] isn’t sufficient enough to cause drastic melting in the Antarctic due to it’s ocean and [[wind]] currents that barricade warmer air. Scientists predict little change in the ice sheets in the next 50 years.<ref name=RE2/> The critical region in Antarctica that is currently being discussed is the Antarctic Peninsula, which has shown a dynamic response in recent times. The Antarctic Peninsula receives 28% of the continents snowfall and experiences warmer temperatures than the rest of the continent.<ref name=RE2/> Researchers state that a rise in temperature is expected to cause the ice shelves in the western peninsula to break off, however this has no direct impact on [[sea level rise]] nor does it indicate changes in the ice sheets.<ref name=RE2/> | ||
== For Further Reading == | |||
* [[Climate change]] | |||
* [[Ocean]] | |||
* [[Arctic sea ice]] | |||
* [[Sea level rise]] | |||
* Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category: Uploaded]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:55, 2 July 2026
Antarctic ice makes up a large portion of the geography in the great continent of Antarctica. With global warming effects becoming noticeable worldwide, one of the main concerns of scientists is to study the world's large bodies of ice, in order to observe melting ice and rising sea levels. The Antarctic ice sheet is of particular concern as the world gets warmer.
Features
Effects of climate change are discussed below, however it is first important to understand the features of Antarctic ice and how it differs from other ice sheets worldwide, most notably Arctic sea ice.
Thickness and Mobility
Antarctica is a land mass which is surrounded by an ocean. The open ocean allows the forming sea ice to move more freely, which results in higher drift speeds than compared to Arctic sea ice.[2] The mobility of Antarctic ice means that it does not have the opportunity to grow as thick as sea ice in the Arctic. As a result, sea ice does not stay in the Antarctic as long as it does in the Arctic.
While thickness varies significantly within both regions, Antarctic ice is typically 1 to 2 meters thick, while most of the Arctic is covered by sea ice 2 to 3 meters thick. Some Arctic regions are covered with ice that is 4 to 5 meters in thickness.[2]
Seasonal variance
Since there is no land boundary north of Antarctica, the sea ice is free to float in the northern direction into warmer waters where it eventually melts. As a result, almost all of the sea ice that forms during the Antarctic winter melts during the summer and reforms during the winter season. During the winter, there is approximately 18 million km2 of ocean is covered by sea ice, but by the end of summer, roughly 3 million km2 of sea ice remains.[2]
In the Antarctic, the ocean currents and winds tend to flow around the continent from west to east, which acts like a barrier that blocks warmer air and water from the north.[2] However, Antarctica is entirely surrounded by ocean which means that moisture is more readily available.[2] Antarctic sea ice tends to be covered by thicker snow, which may accumulate to the point that the weight of snow pushes the ice below sea level, known as a "negative freeboard".[3] When the ice is pushed below sea level, the snow becomes flooded by salty ocean waters.[2] This salty snow-ice alters the growth and structure of the ice.[4]
Impacts of climate change on Antarctic Ice
Due to extreme low temperatures in Antarctica, there is little surface melting occurring on the ice sheet. Most of the ice loss is contributed to the deterioration of icebergs which is a long process.[5]
A rise in temperature isn’t sufficient enough to cause drastic melting in the Antarctic due to it’s ocean and wind currents that barricade warmer air. Scientists predict little change in the ice sheets in the next 50 years.[5] The critical region in Antarctica that is currently being discussed is the Antarctic Peninsula, which has shown a dynamic response in recent times. The Antarctic Peninsula receives 28% of the continents snowfall and experiences warmer temperatures than the rest of the continent.[5] Researchers state that a rise in temperature is expected to cause the ice shelves in the western peninsula to break off, however this has no direct impact on sea level rise nor does it indicate changes in the ice sheets.[5]
For Further Reading
- Climate change
- Ocean
- Arctic sea ice
- Sea level rise
- Or explore a random page
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Antarktyda_i_Antarktyka.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "All About Sea Ice | Arctic vs. Antarctic | National Snow and Ice Data Center", National Snow & Ice Data Center, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/seaice/characteristics/difference.html. [Accessed: 12- May- 2016].
- ↑ T. Maksym & M. O. Jeffries (2000). (Accessed June 22, 2026). A one-dimensional percolation model of flooding and snow ice formation on Antarctic sea ice [Online]. Available: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2000JC900130
- ↑ Cambridge University (2017). (Accessed June 22, 2026). Effects of the snow cover on Antarctic sea ice and potential modulation of its response to climate change [Online]. Available: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annals-of-glaciology/article/effects-of-the-snow-cover-on-antarctic-sea-ice-and-potential-modulation-of-its-response-to-climate-change/751F4956F650BA7452A281A36E62FBA3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "The Regional Impacts of Climate Change", Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/regional/index.php?idp=46. [Accessed: 14- May- 2016].
