East Antarctic ice melt could spell doom

MELBOURNE: The East Antarctic ice sheet is a 'sleeping giant' and the world is on track for massive sea level rises resulting from its melting due to the rising carbon dioxide levels, scientists warn.

Research showed that if carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue increasing as predicted, the giant East Antarctic ice sheet will melt.

"Our study shows that this ice sheet becomes unstable and melts if carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reach 600ppm - levels which may be reached by the end of the century if emissions reductions targets agreed to recently in Paris are not met," said lead author Tim Naish, director of Victoria University's Antarctic Research Centre in Australia.


"If the East Antarctic ice sheet completely melted, global sea level would rise about 60 metres. It's a sleeping giant," Naish said. The research documents the growth of the first continent-wide ice sheet on Antarctica 34 million years ago.