West Antarctic Ice Sheet warming rapidly

January 1, 2013

As per a new study, the western part of Antarctica is experiencing nearly twice as much warming as previously thought. The temperature record from Byrd Station, a scientific outpost in the center of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), recorded a marked increase of 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 degrees Celsius) in average annual temperature since 1958 — that is, three times faster than the average temperature rise around the globe. This finding places West Antarctica among the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
Its melting currently contributes 0.3 mm to sea level rise each year — second to Greenland, whose contribution to sea level rise has been estimated as high as 0.7 mm per year.
What is Byrd Station?
It is an important scientific outpost in the center of the WAIS which is the indicator of climate change throughout the region. It is located some 700 miles from the South Pole and near the center of the WAIS.

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