The West Antarctic ice sheet is larger than Mexico and it is believed to be in danger from global warming. If the ice sheet breaks up and melts, it has the ability to raise the sea level by twelve feet. Originally, researchers thought this would take thousands of years, but now new research is displaying a much more scary future for the ice sheet. Due to the high carbon emissions and warming temperatures, the ice sheet could be gone by the end of the century, and its disappearance could cause the sea level to rise by three feet. Research now indicates that with all of the melting ice, sea levels could rise six feet by 2100. The article states that many dense coastal cities will have to be abandoned, because there will not be enough protection for all of them to survive the rising sea levels. These cities include New York City, Miami, New Orleans, London, Venice, Sydney and many more.

The article then discusses the findings of researchers, including what will happen if humans continue burning fossil fuels at the same rate of today. It is expected that the West Antarctic ice sheet would be broken apart by 2050 that is only 34 years away. Most of the research is in debate now, but one thing is clear, we cannot continue to burn fossil fuels at this same rate or we will be leaving future generations a disastrous world with rising sea levels.

References:

Gillis, Justin. “Climate Model Predicts West Antarctic Ice Sheet Could Melt Rapidly.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 Mar. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.