Will ice sheets collapse in West Antarctica?
Climate
The West Antarctic ice sheet is highly vulnerable to climate warming, raising the specter of substantial sea level rise. In a Perspective, Hulbe examines whether collapse of the ice sheet is inevitable. Models suggest that if the world can rein in fossil fuel emissions and follow a low-emissions pathway, the ice sheet’s retreat may stop. However, the models are incomplete, particularly regarding the ocean cavity under the floating ice. Observational and model studies are under way to further elucidate how warmer water circulating under the ice shelf could destabilize the ice sheet, even under low-emission conditions.

Science , this issue p. [910][1]

 [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aam9728