Octopus DNA Reveals West Antarctic Ice Sheet Collapse During Last Interglacial
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Octopus DNA reveals West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse during Last Interglacial
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When was the last time West Antarctic ice completely melted? Octopuses can tell us
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<p>Genetic analyses of an Antarctic octopus show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) collapsed during the Last Interglacial ~129,000 to 116,000 years ago when temperatures were only about 1 degree Celsius (°C) warmer than preindustrial levels. The findings suggest that WAIS collapse and resultant sea-level rise could be caused by even the minimal temperature rises projected by the most optimistic climate change mitigation plans. Climate change is driving unprecedented change to Earth’s cryosphere. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is considered particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures and may be headed towards irreversible collapse under future climate change trajectories. The ice sheet’s tipping point may lie within the current global climate targets of 1.5 to 2 °C. Total WAIS collapse would likely have devastating global ramifications. It’s estimated that WAIS collapse alone could raise the average global sea level by roughly