Sources: 
Recent findings show that rising ocean heat is melting Antarctica from below, posing catastrophic risks to global sea levels. The study highlights the increasing threat to the continent's ice shelves from warmer circumpolar deep water encroaching upon the Antarctic continental shelf.
Prof. Sarah Purkey from Scripps Institution of Oceanography likens this phenomenon to
turning on a hot tap, causing the ocean to heat up rapidly.
This new influx of warmer water could destabilize crucial ice formations that hold back inland ice sheets, which contain enough water to raise sea levels by
190 feet.
This change in ocean heat distribution has occurred over the last two decades and plays a critical role in the global climate system, affecting heat and carbon storage worldwide.
As Prof. Purkey notes, this is a significant change in ocean circulation as
“the ice sheets were protected by a bath of cold water”, which is no longer the case.
The expansion of warm deep water could lead to further warming trends, exacerbating the risks of global climate impacts as observed shifts in ocean dynamics unfold in the Southern Ocean.
Climate experts express concern that this underscores the imperative for immediate action to mitigate climate risks before the consequences become irreversible.
Sources: A recent study reveals that rising ocean heat is melting Antarctica's ice from below, threatening its ice shelves and potentially accelerating global sea-level rise. Researchers note that this shift has been likened to turning on a hot tap as warmer circumpolar deep water advances towards the continent.
