Scientists have discovered a new factor that could significantly accelerate ice sheet melting in Antarctica and Greenland. This tipping point involves warm seawater intruding between the base of coastal ice sheets and the underlying rock, causing melting from below.

• Feedback loop intensifies melting: The melting creates cavities that allow more warm water to enter, further accelerating the melting process in a self-perpetuating feedback loop.
• Greater sea level rise concerns: While the impact wouldn’t be immediate, this new factor could lead to a significant increase in sea level rise over time, threatening coastal communities worldwide.
• Uncertain timeframe and impact: The study doesn’t specify how soon this tipping point might be reached or the exact amount of additional sea level rise it could trigger.
• Highlighting urgency for action: This discovery underscores the importance of curbing global warming to minimize ice sheet melting and its consequences.

Read more at The Guardian website.