Can an Antarctic ice sheet collapse cause a worldwide tsunami?

  • #1

NealM

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Hi,

I am not a Physical Student/Physical Scientist.
Can an Antarctic ice sheet collapse cause a worldwide tsunami? A big one or bigger like this: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/26/iceberg-size-of-greater-london-breaks-off-antarctica

Can you please explain why this can cause a worldwide tsunami or why not ?

Research done but for me it is still not clear if an Antarctic ice sheet collapse can cause a worldwide tsunami.
Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4887769/
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF.
The large parts of the icecap that break away are floating in the seawater before the break. Since there is no sudden change in displaced volume, there will be no tsunami generated.

The land mass is not polished like a slide, so the icecap fits the landscape profile well. The speed of movement is determined by the rate of melting and refreezing of the bottom of the ice cap. No sudden movement is possible.
 
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1. What is an Antarctic ice sheet collapse?

An Antarctic ice sheet collapse refers to the rapid loss of ice from the continent of Antarctica, resulting in a significant decrease in the size and mass of the ice sheet. This can occur due to a combination of factors such as melting, calving (breaking off) of icebergs, and increased flow of ice into the ocean.

2. Can an Antarctic ice sheet collapse cause a worldwide tsunami?

In theory, it is possible for an Antarctic ice sheet collapse to cause a worldwide tsunami. However, the likelihood of this happening is very low. The majority of the ice in Antarctica is already floating on the ocean, so it would not contribute significantly to a tsunami. Additionally, the collapse would need to be extremely sudden and massive to generate a tsunami that could reach distant coastlines.

3. What are the potential impacts of an Antarctic ice sheet collapse?

An Antarctic ice sheet collapse could have significant impacts on global sea levels, potentially leading to coastal flooding and erosion. It could also disrupt ocean currents and marine ecosystems, and contribute to global climate change. Additionally, it could potentially affect human activities such as shipping and resource extraction in the polar regions.

4. How likely is an Antarctic ice sheet collapse?

While there is evidence that Antarctic ice has been melting at an increasing rate in recent years, the likelihood of a complete collapse of the ice sheet is still uncertain. Scientists continue to study and monitor the ice sheet to better understand its stability and potential for collapse.

5. What is being done to prepare for a potential Antarctic ice sheet collapse?

Scientists and governments are working together to monitor and study the Antarctic ice sheet in order to better understand its potential for collapse. This information can then be used to inform strategies for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of ice sheet collapse, such as implementing coastal protection measures and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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