Published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience the UK-US science team report that, in addition to the natural variations, which last about a decade, there has been a longer-term change in the winds that can be linked with human activities. This is an important result because continued ice loss could cause tens of centimeters of sea-level rise by the year 2100. The research team combined satellite observations and climate model simulations to understand how winds over the ocean near West Antarctica have changed since the 1920s in response to rising greenhouse gas concentrations. Their investigation reveals that human-induced climate change has caused a long-term change in the winds, and that warm ocean conditions have gradually become more prevalent as a result. Lead author, Professor Paul Holland from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), says: The team also looked at model simulations of future winds. Prof Holland continues: Co-author, Professor Pierre Dutrieux from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University Earth Institute in New York, says: Co-author, Professor Eric Steig from the University of Washington, says: Reference: “West Antarctic ice loss influenced by anthropogenic forcing and internal climate variability“ by Paul R. Holland, Thomas J. Bracegirdle, Pierre Dutrieux, Adrian Jenkins and Eric J. Steig, 12 August 2019, Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/s41561-019-0420-9
