The East Antarctic Ice Sheet experienced a major retreat about 9,000 years ago, triggered by a powerful feedback between melting ice and ocean currents. Warm deep water flowing into coastal East Antarctica caused ice shelves to collapse, which in turn sped up inland ice loss. This suggests that Antarctic ice retreat isn’t confined to one area but can spread across regions through oceanic links, amplifying ice loss on a continental scale. Antarctic ice sheets may be inherently unstable, both in the distant past and in the modern era.
Climate Crisis Blog
