Environment & Climate
Fossil fuel burning is pushing Earth's sea ice and permafrost beyond safe limits
Wired reports that a new Science study finds Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost are outside a safe operating threshold.
The short version
- New Science research links fossil fuel burning to the loss of conditions that keep ice, frozen soil and snow stable.[Wired]
- Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost have fallen outside the safe operating threshold, while land ice has not yet done so but is on the brink.[Wired]
- The West Antarctic Ice Sheet holds enough ice to raise sea levels by 11 feet, according to the reporting.[Wired]
- Study co-author Albert Noström says emissions cuts are the most urgent step and warns that exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius risks triggering Earth system tipping points.[Wired]
Key facts
- New research published in Science says conditions keeping ice, frozen soil and snow stable are slipping away due to burning fossil fuels.[Wired]
- Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost area have fallen outside the safe operating threshold.[Wired]
- Land ice has not yet fallen outside the safe operating threshold but is on the brink.[Wired]
- The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has enough ice to raise sea levels by 11 feet (3 meters).[Wired]
- Geoengineering approaches to protect ice could be costly, and there is no guarantee they would work.[Wired]
What remains uncertain
- Land ice is likely to fall outside the safe threshold in the coming centuries, based on warming already locked into the climate system; this is a projection, not an observed outcome.[Wired]
- Geoengineering options, such as pumping cold water to thicken ice or building barriers around the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, are modeled or explored by other researchers and their cost and effectiveness are unproven.[Wired]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.