Detailed Summary of Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse

Detailed Summary of Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse Between 1998 and 1999, the Larsen B Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula collapsed, causing approximately 2,800 square kilometers of ice to flow into the ocean. This collapse is attributed primarily to warming caused by climate change, with the rise in average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula—which has increased by about 2.5°C over the past 50 years—cited as a key factor. This collapse has accelerated the outflow of surrounding glaciers, increasing the risk of sea-level rise. In the 2020s, the Swaitz Glacier (also known as the “End-of-the-World Glacier”) came into focus, and it was revealed that this glacier—which is comparable in size to the state of Florida—is losing approximately 50 billion tons of ice annually. In 2021, it was noted that the ice shelf could collapse within the next five years, and that its complete collapse could cause global sea levels to rise by approximately 60 cm. Countries are strengthening their measures against global warming, a nd corporate initiatives are also progressing, with ExxonMobil setting a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and Shell advancing investments in renewable energy.