Antarctic glacier gains unexpected mass, scientists investigate and encounter strong unstable element

A new study published in Science China Earth Sciences has revealed a surprising anomaly: between 2021 and 2023, the Antarctic ice sheet gained mass after nearly two decades of steady decline. According to researchers, unusually heavy snowfall is responsible for the increase, allowing four major glaciers in the Wilkes Land-Queen Mary Land (WL-QML) region of East Antarctica to reverse course and gain ice.

From rapid decline to rare recovery

For years, Antarctica’s ice loss contributed significantly to sea level rise. Between 2002 and 2010, the continent’s ice sheet lost an average of 73.79 gigatonnes per year, a rate that almost doubled to around 147 gigatonnes per year between 2011 and 2022. This steady depletion pushed global sea levels up by 0.20 millimeters annually in the first period and 0.39 millimeters annually in the second.

However, the recent anomalous snowfall helped the region gain around 107.79 gigatonnes of ice per year, reducing the annual rise in sea level to 0.30 millimeters between 2021 and 2023.

Why this rebound isn’t a long-term fix

While the temporary ice mass gain sounds like good news, experts warn that this is not a sign of lasting recovery. The rebound is attributed to abnormal weather patterns rather than a stable shift in glacial health. Scientists emphasize that without consistent snowfall and cooling temperatures, the trend is unlikely to continue.

Two key drivers of Antarctic ice loss

According to the study’s authors, two primary factors continue to drive glacial decline in Antarctica:

1. Rising temperatures: warmer air in the region reduces snowfall accumulation, with much of the snow melting before it can solidify into ice.
2. Warming ocean waters: the surrounding seas are eroding glaciers from below, causing chunks of ice to break off and melt into the ocean, contributing directly to sea level rise.

Despite this temporary slowdown in ice loss, the underlying climate challenges remain pressing. The Antarctic ice sheet continues to be highly vulnerable to both atmospheric and oceanic warming.

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