The ice sheet is losing mass at a significant rate. It's a good indicator of how the climate is changing. It tells us we have to pay attention.
Their orbits have a very large inclination, of 89 degrees in fact, so you get very good coverage over the Antarctic.
The changes we are seeing are probably a good indicator of the changing climatic conditions there.
The overall balance of the Antarctic ice is dependent on regional changes in the interior and those in the coastal areas. The changes we are seeing are probably a good indicator of the changing climatic conditions there.