Really Bad News from Antarctica

For those who thought that glacial melting due to climate change mainly affected Greenland and mountain glaciers like in the Himalayas, think again. A new NASA/UC Irvine study reports that melting of West Antarctica's glaciers "appears unstoppable".

2 minute read

May 13, 2014, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"Large portions of the massive ice sheet in West Antarctica are melting — and there's likely nothing we can do to stop the decline," writes Brad Plumer for Vox, Ezra Klein's new media venture, about a new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine.

The key question is how quickly all that ice will melt into the ocean and push up sea levels in the decades and centuries ahead.

For readers concerned about sea-level rise, the study makes some important changes to what had been predicted because the glaciers "appear to be dwindling even faster than scientists thought." It "means forecasts for future sea-level rise may have to be revised upward. (The current consensus holds that global average sea levels will rise between 1 foot and 4 feet by 2100,) adds Plumer.

Note that "ice sheet" and "glaciers" are used interchangeably by both Plumer and NASA. 

According to the UC Irvine press release,  the study incorporated "40 years of observations – that six massive glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector 'have passed the point of no return,' according to glaciologist Eric Rignot, a UC Irvine Earth system science professor who is also with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory."

One final note on why the ice sheets are melting. "It's not because the air in Antarctica has been heating up. Instead, strong winds are pulling warmer water from the deep oceans toward the glaciers and melting the ice sheet from below," writes Plumer. "Natural fluctuations and the ozone hole over Antarctica may also be playing a role."

Monday, May 12, 2014 in Vox

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

July 10 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA