Recent research published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the Conger ice shelf in East Antarctica, previously thought stable, experienced a sudden collapse in 2022. This ice shelf, which had existed for thousands of years, fragmented into icebergs unexpectedly after decades of unnoticed weakening.
Mathieu Morlighem, a glaciologist from Dartmouth College, emphasizes the significance of this ice shelf, noting that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet contains ten times more ice than its western counterpart. The collapse raises alarms about potential sea level rise if the East Antarctic Ice Sheet begins to retreat.
The Conger ice shelf, covering an area 20 times that of Manhattan, was observed to have thinned from approximately 200 meters in 1994 to 130 meters in 2021. This thinning, combined with existing cracks, made it vulnerable to a storm that struck the region in March 2022, exacerbating its structural integrity.
Catherine Walker, a glaciologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, discovered the collapse while reviewing satellite images. The ice shelf's disintegration, although not directly impacting sea levels due to the size of its associated glaciers, signals a worrying trend in a region previously deemed stable.
Research indicates that ocean currents have shifted since 2010, introducing warmer waters that may have contributed to the ice shelf's deterioration. The Denman Glacier, located 130 kilometers west of the Conger ice shelf, may also face destabilization, potentially contributing to significant global sea level rise.
The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of East Antarctica, as changes in this sector could have far-reaching implications for global sea levels.