Epic Antarctic voyage maps seafloor to predict ocean rise as glacier the size of California melts

Global research group will trace Totten glacier's history back to last ice age, in hope of predicting future melting patterns

In East Antarctica, 3,000km south of the West Australian town of Albany, an ice shelf the size of California is melting from below.

The concerning trend was confirmed by Australian scientists in December, who reported that warming ocean temperatures were causing the rapid melt of the end of the Totten glacier, which is holding back enough ice to create a global sea rise of between 3.5 metres and six metres.