Antarctica's ice melting faster than predicted

THE most comprehensive study to date of Antarctica's ice confirms growing concern that the ice cap is melting faster than predicted. The implications are that the global sea level will rise faster than expected, while a huge influx of freshwater into the salty oceans could alter ocean currents. Antarctica holds 90 per cent of Earth's ice. According to the new findings, snowfall is topping up ice in the continent's interior and East Antarctic has held its own. But West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula lost nearly 200 billion tonnes of ice in 2006 alone.

Aust 15 Jan 2008