Octopus DNA Indicates West Antarctic Ice Sheet Nearing Collapse

The ice sheet's last collapse occurred during the Last Interglacial period, when global temperatures were similar to today, raising concerns about future sea-level rise.

• Turquet’s octopuses' DNA reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) last collapsed between 54,000 and 139,000 years ago, during the Last Interglacial period.
• The WAIS holds enough water to raise global sea levels by more than 16 feet if it were to melt entirely, threatening many coastal cities.
• Global average temperatures are currently around 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial averages, similar to the Last Interglacial period when the WAIS last collapsed.
• The study suggests that the WAIS is closer to collapse than previously thought, even under the best-case emissions scenarios.
• Understanding the past configurations of the WAIS when global temperatures were similar to today can help improve future sea-level rise projections.

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