the Antarctic Ice Sheet

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the world's largest ice mass, covering about 14 million square kilometers. It contains roughly 90% of Earth's freshwater ice and, if melted completely, could raise global sea levels by around 58 meters. The ice sheet is a massive, dynamic system, shaped by snowfall accumulation and ice flow towards the ocean, where it calves into icebergs. Its stability is influenced by climate change; warming temperatures can cause ice to melt and thin, potentially accelerating sea-level rise. Studying the Antarctic Ice Sheet is essential for understanding future sea level changes and climate impacts.