Etelämantereenjäätikkö

Etelämantereenjäätikkö, also known as the Antarctic ice sheet, is the largest body of ice on Earth. It covers approximately 98% of the continent of Antarctica, with an average thickness of about 1.9 kilometers. The ice sheet contains about 70% of the world's freshwater. Its immense mass exerts significant pressure on the Antarctic landmass, causing isostatic depression.

The Antarctic ice sheet is broadly divided into two main sections: the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, separated by the Transantarctic Mountains. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is the larger and more stable of the two, resting primarily on bedrock above sea level. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is generally grounded below sea level, making it more susceptible to melting from warming ocean waters.

The formation of the ice sheet began millions of years ago, with its current size largely established during the Cenozoic Era. The ice sheet is dynamic, with ice flowing outwards from its interior towards the coast, where it forms ice shelves and glaciers that calve icebergs into the surrounding Southern Ocean.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet. Rising global temperatures, particularly warming ocean waters, are contributing to the thinning and retreat of some ice shelves and glaciers, especially in West Antarctica. The melting of the ice sheet has the potential to cause substantial sea-level rise globally. Scientific research on the ice sheet is crucial for understanding its past, present, and future behavior and its implications for the global climate system.