New research using machine learning and autonomous float data reveals that warm circumpolar deep water is shifting toward the Antarctic continental shelf. This movement threatens to destabilize ice shelves that hold back massive freshwater reserves, which could significantly raise global sea levels. This shift also disrupts the global ocean conveyor belt, affecting how the Southern Ocean regulates heat and stores carbon. Scientists warn that these observations confirm model predictions of a weakening system that manages the planet's climate and nutrient distribution.
