Escalating Ice Loss Found in Antarctica

Sheets Melting in an Area Once Thought to Be Unaffected by Global Warming
Part of the Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica is shown after its rapid collapse in early 2002, which was attributed to global warming. Ice sheets elsewhere on the continent that were considered stable are melting, scientists have found. At right, satellite images show the Sheldon Glacier in western Antarctica in, from top, 1986, 2001 and last October.
Part of the Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica is shown after its rapid collapse in early 2002, which was attributed to global warming. Ice sheets elsewhere on the continent that were considered stable are melting, scientists have found.
 
Climatic changes appear to be destabilizing vast ice sheets of western Antarctica that had previously seemed relatively protected from global warming, researchers reported yesterday, raising the prospect of faster sea-level rise than current estimates.