Antarctic water is dramatically getting saltier. It's not good news
Monitoring the Southern Ocean is notoriously difficult. (Photo: Getty)
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However, since 2015, Antarctica has lost an area of sea ice comparable to Greenland, one of the most extensive environmental changes in recent decades.Instead of becoming fresher, the surface waters south of 50 S latitude have grown saltier, according to a research team led by the University of Southampton.This shift is 'deeply troubling,' said Dr. Alessandro Silvano, lead author of the study published in PNAS. 'Melting ice should freshen the ocean, not make it saltier. Yet SMOS satellite data reveal the opposite is occurring.'A Dangerous Feedback LoopThe increase in surface salinity is altering the ocean's structure.Normally, cold, fresh water floats above warmer, saltier water, trapping heat in the ocean's depths and promoting sea ice formation.
Accelerated global warming as less ice means more heat is absorbed by the ocean. (Photo: Getty)
Now, saltier surface waters allow heat from below to rise more easily, melting sea ice from beneath and making it harder for new ice to form.This has coincided with the unexpected return of the Maud Rise polynya—a vast area of open water in the Weddell Sea not seen since the 1970s—highlighting just how abnormal current conditions are.Global ConsequencesThe loss of Antarctic sea ice has far-reaching implications:Disrupted ocean currents and altered climate patterns worldwide.Accelerated global warming as less ice means more heat is absorbed by the ocean and released to the atmosphere.Threats to Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, as vital habitats shrink.Monitoring the Southern Ocean is notoriously difficult, but the integration of SMOS satellite data with in-situ measurements has enabled the creation of a comprehensive 15-year dataset.
The loss of Antarctic sea ice has far-reaching implications. (Photo: Getty)
This breakthrough, achieved through advanced algorithms developed by the University of Southampton and the Barcelona Expert Centre, is part of ESA's Science for Society initiative.Dr. Silvano warns, 'We might be closer to passing a tipping point than expected and have potentially entered a new state defined by persistent sea ice decline, sustained by a newly discovered feedback loop.'As Antarctica undergoes rapid, unexpected changes, continuous satellite and in-situ monitoring will be essential to understand and predict the consequences for our planet.- EndsTrending Reel
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