Mysterious Antarctic region that could lift sea levels by several metres must be studied - researchers
Researchers are calling for urgent international study of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin in East Antarctica due to its potential to significantly raise global sea levels. Scientists warn that the region is more vulnerable to climate-driven instability than previously thought.
Why it matters
The stability of East Antarctica is a critical factor in predicting the severity and speed of future sea-level rise, which threatens coastal populations worldwide.
A mysterious Antarctic region that holds enough ice to lift sea levels by several metres needs to be studied urgently, researchers say.
The Wilkes Subglacial Basin in East Antarctica is largely unexplored - but scientists know it is incredibly important for predicting future sea-level rise.
Researchers from 14 countries, including New Zealand, have now published a study calling for a coordinated international effort to collect data on the region as quickly as possible.
Victoria University climate scientist Nancy Bertler, who co-authored the study, said the limited evidence available showed a risk of rapid change as the climate warmed.
For a long time, researchers had concentrated on the risk to the smaller West Antarctic ice sheet.
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