In a surprising development, Antarctica’s ice sheet experienced a net gain in mass between 2021 and 2023, marking the first such increase in decades. A study published in Science China Earth Sciences attributes this growth—approximately 108 gigatons per year—to unusual increases in snowfall, particularly in East Antarctica’s Wilkes Land and Queen Mary Land regions.

Researchers utilized satellite data from NASA’s GRACE and GRACE-FO missions to measure these changes, noting a reversal from the previous trend of ice loss, which had averaged 142 gigatons annually from 2011 to 2020.    

While this rebound offers a temporary slowdown in global sea-level rise, scientists caution that it does not signify a halt to climate change.

The anomalous precipitation patterns driving the ice gain are considered temporary, and the long-term outlook for Antarctic ice remains uncertain. Experts emphasize the need for continued monitoring to understand the implications of such fluctuations in the context of global climate dynamics.  

Source: Yahoo News

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-satellites-show-antarctica-gained-130000138.html