Why East Antarctica is a ‘Sleeping Giant’ of Sea Level Rise

The East Antarctic Ice Sheet stores 52 meters of sea level equivalent, over four times greater than both Greenland and West Antarctica combined. Although often viewed as less vulnerable to global warming, East Antarctica could increase global sea level rise by several meters over the next few centuries if emissions remain on their current trajectory. Even small changes to the East Antarctica will have catastrophic impacts on low-lying and coastal regions across the globe. Every fraction of a degree matters. Contacts: University of Tasmania (UTAS), Monash University, Durham University