Isabella Velicogna is a geoscientist known for her work using gravity measurements from space to study changes in the polar ice sheets and water storage on Earth. (wikipedia)
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.
It is the first time we can say that if you look at the entire ice sheet, it is losing mass.
Because ice sheets are a large source of uncertainties in projections of sea level change, this represents a very important step toward more accurate prediction.
But you know now what's going on which I think is pretty good.
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.
Antarctica is Earth's largest reservoir of fresh water.
As it turns out if you can measure changes in distance between the two satellites, you can get information about what's underneath and what's causing those changes. And you can get information when you fly over the ice sheet about the mass change of the ice sheet.
This is the first study to indicate the total mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet is in significant decline.
We can now see Antarctica melting. We have a number for the ice sheet. It's a big step toward understanding how the sea level is going to change.
Their orbits have a very large inclination, of 89 degrees in fact, so you get very good coverage over the Antarctic.
