The melting of Antarctica’s sea ice has had severe consequences for the Southern Ocean already, from the loss of its habitats to the increase of its sea levels to the intensification of its storms and severe weather. But it turns out that things can always take a turn for the worse.
A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that the surface of the Southern Ocean is suddenly getting saltier rather than fresher, as more and more Antarctic sea ice is lost. According to the study authors, this trend began in 2015 and comes as a surprise to scientists, spelling trouble for the remaining sea ice.
“Saltier surface water allows deep ocean heat to rise more easily, melting sea ice from below,” said Alessandro Silvano, a study author and a researcher at the University of Southampton, according to a press release. “It’s a dangerous ...
