Antarctica’s Melting Ice Could Drown Coastal Regions by 2200
Antarctica holds vast amounts of frozen water—enough to raise global sea levels by about 190 feet if fully melted. Under a high-emissions future, the continent’s ice sheets could contribute close to 10 feet of sea-level rise by 2200. Both West and East Antarctica face significant threats from sustained warming.
Regional differences will play a major role in how sea levels change. Some areas, particularly in the Caribbean and central Pacific, are expected to see much higher rises than the global average. Pacific and Atlantic island nations could experience increases of up to 14 feet by 2200. Meanwhile, natural processes like the Earth’s crust rebounding and meltwater cooling effects may slow some melting.
Under a moderate emissions path, Antarctic ice melt would still raise sea levels by around 4 inches by 2100. However, by 2200, certain regions—especially in the Indian, Pacific, and western Atlantic basins—could see rises of up to 5 feet. This uneven impact stems from freshwater disrupting ocean currents, such as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and warm water accelerating ice loss from below.
The study confirms that Antarctica’s melting will reshape coastlines unevenly across the globe. Low-lying areas and island nations face the greatest threats, with some regions potentially seeing extreme sea-level rises by 2200. These changes will depend heavily on future greenhouse gas emissions and their effects on ice sheet stability.
