Why it matters: This marks the first time in human history that an ice shelf has collapsed in an area that has long been considered stable and less vulnerable to climate change. If the icy water in East Antarctica melted, it would raise sea levels by more than 160 feet around the world, according to the AP. The big picture: Ice shelves are a kind of safety belt around the outskirts of the continent, University of Minnesota ice scientist Peter Nef said in a video posted on Twitter. Their collapse accelerates the upstream ice and contributes to rising sea levels.
It will only get worse if people continue to emit greenhouse gases, Neff added. The East Anartctica ice shelf, which was about 460 square miles wide, collapsed sometime between March 14 and March 16, the AP reports.
