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6/09/2014

Topic Reading-Vol.789-6/9/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,
5 Myths About Antarctic Melt
While having more sea ice around western Antarctica, the total ice mass is declining. Why?
It’s because when the amount of ice in Antarctica is mentioned, it refers the ice on the continent, namely glaciers, not the sea ice that melts in summer. Thus, more sea ice around Antarctica means more melted water in the sea that could raise the sea levels. In other words, if the glaciers on Antarctica retreats, more sea ice is formed around the continent that melts and raises sea levels. This is very much opposite from the other side of the globe where sea ice stays throughout the year, which means that the shrinkage of the sea ice in Arctic area raises sea levels.
Enjoy reading and learning why the loss of glacier ice in the westernmost Antarctica matters the most to the rise of sea levels.

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