Scientists discover an alarming change in Antarctica's past that could spell devastating future sea level rise

Evidence from a 2,000-foot-long ice core reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet shrank suddenly about 8,000 years ago, according to new research. The study shows that part of the ice sheet thinned by 450 meters over 200 years at the end of the last Ice Age, marking the first direct evidence of such rapid ice loss in Antarctica. This has alarming implications for potential sea level rise. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels by about 5 meters, which could lead to devastating flooding in coastal towns and cities globally. The study underscores the need to address climate change to avoid such tipping points.