How much is the ice shrinking in the Antarctic?

Answer 1

None. There was a net gain of ice in Antarctica in 2008, and also a new record set of total sea ice, eclipsing the last record high by millions or square kilometers.

Brandon Caswell, Canada

Answer 2

NASA's Grace satellite shows that Antarctica has been losing more than a hundred cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice each year since 2002. The latest data also shows that the rate that Antarctica is losing ice is accelerating, too.

See the NASA link below.

Answer 3

Approximately 100 cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice melts in Antarctica every year (NASA's Grace satellite).

East Antarctica is a high, cold, desert plateau. Satellite data show a little mass loss at the edges, but this is counterbalanced by a buildup of snow in the centre. Not much is happening in East Antarctica.

West Antarctica is a series of islands covered with ice, with most of the ice resting on the floor of the ocean (1.7 km or more than 1 mile below sea level in places). The 'grounding line' is where the front of the glacier touches the sea bed. These grounding lines are retreating, which means that the glaciers are losing mass. When this happens, when the underwater part of the glacier melts, the top becomes an ice shelf. An ice shelf is very vulnerable to a warming ocean and the Antarctic ice shelves have been collapsing.

In 2002 the Larsen-B ice shelf (the size of Rhode Island) collapsed and was caught on satellite cameras. The 12,000-year-old ice shelf crumbled in three weeks. After the collapse, the glaciers behind the ice shelf sped up their movement into the ocean.

NASA's satellite measurements show that Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice each year since 2002. The rate of melting is also speeding up.

See the NASA link below.

Another Answer:

While ice has indeed been seen melting in the Arctic regions of our planet, we really have not seen melting in our Southern counterpart. Since 2008 we have seen ice growth in this area. Total ice loss in the Antarctic growth though is so small it is statically zero. The gain is measurable, but within the margin of error. What some groups point to is the changing nature of the ice in the Antarctic. There has indeed been ice loss on portions Greenland, but this loss has been more then made up by sea ice increases. (see link)

Even the concept of ice loss on land is being questioned:

"Evidence suggests that Antarctica, where 90% of the land based ice in the world resides, is increasing in mass. And this fact is ignored or downplayed in virtually every mainstream report available today, and indeed the mainstream press continues to infer that Antarctica is melting at an alarming rate. But on balance, the ice mass in Antarctica is not melting, it is probably getting bigger."

Answer 4

The ice ebbs and wanes over the course of a year, but on average the loss has been estimated at 35 cubic kilometers per year, which corresponds to 38 billion tons. More recent satellite measurements reveal Antarctic land ice loss to be between 100 and 300 billion tons per year, which corresponds to an ocean rise of .27 mm to .83 mm.

Antarctic sea ice, in contrast, ebbs and wanes with the seasons, and like arctic sea ice melt does not contribute to raising ocean levels. See the link on Antarctic Ice Loss for further details.

Another Answer:

While ice has indeed been seen melting in the Arctic regions of our planet, we really have not seen melting in our Southern counterpart. Since 2008 we have seen ice growth in this area. Total ice loss in the Antarctic growth though is so small it is statically zero. The gain is measurable, but within the margin of error. What some groups point to is the changing nature of the ice in the Antarctic. There has indeed been ice loss on portions Greenland, but this loss has been more then made up by sea ice increases. (see link)

Even the concept of ice loss on land is being questioned:

"Evidence suggests that Antarctica, where 90% of the land based ice in the world resides, is increasing in mass. And this fact is ignored or downplayed in virtually every mainstream report available today, and indeed the mainstream press continues to infer that Antarctica is melting at an alarming rate. But on balance, the ice mass in Antarctica is not melting, it is probably getting bigger."

(Same link)

Answer 5

The Antarctic ice sheet has been losing about 118 gigatons of ice per year since 2002. This rate of ice loss has been increasing in recent years due to warming temperatures. The ice loss is contributing to rising sea levels globally.

Answer 6

Answer

24 Cubic Miles every year.

Answer 7

The ice sheet that covers 98% of the Antarctic continent, contains about 90% of the earth's ice and about 70% of the earth's fresh water.

Answer 8

I dont know. Thats what i am tryin to figure out.