Stronger El Niño events may speed up irreversible melting of Antarctic ice, research finds

New study shows impact of weather phenomenon could have a double whammy' effect, leading to worsening extreme weather and accelerating sea level rise

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Stronger El Nino events due to global heating may accelerate irreversible melting of the Antarctic ice sheet and ice shelves and the rise in sea levels, according to research from Australia's premier government science agency.

Previous studies have found that rising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are expected to increase the magnitude of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (Enso), the planet's most significant year-to-year climate fluctuation and a major driver of extreme droughts and floods. Extreme warm El Nino events and cool La Nina events are expected to become more frequent as the planet heats.

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