Antarctica gains ice sheet for first time in decades, reversing dangerous trend of mass loss

In a surprising twist, Antarctica’s massive ice sheet — long a major contributor to rising sea levels — has begun to grow again, at least for now. A new study published in Science China Earth Sciences reveals that between 2021 and 2023, the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) experienced an unprecedented increase in mass, primarily due to abnormal spikes in precipitation.

Researchers from Tongji University in Shanghai and other institutions used satellite gravimetry data from NASA’s GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, which detect changes in Earth’s gravity to monitor shifts in ice mass. According to an article by SciTechDaily, their analysis shows that while the AIS lost around 142 gigatons of ice annually between 2011 and 2020, it reversed course in the last two years, gaining approximately 108 gigatons per year — a dramatic turnaround.

This recent gain was enough to temporarily reduce global sea level rise by about 0.3 millimeters annually. The most significant growth occurred in East Antarctica, particularly in the Wilkes Land and Queen Mary Land areas. Glacier basins there — including Totten, Denman, Moscow University, and Vincennes Bay — had previously shown troubling signs of rapid ice loss due to surface melting and increased discharge into the ocean. Now, they appear to have partially recovered.

Despite the positive news, scientists caution against interpreting the rebound as a reversal of the climate crisis. The increase in ice mass was tied to unusual and likely short-term precipitation patterns, not to a broader cooling trend or long-term climatic improvement.

The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which contains over half of the world’s fresh water, remains a key driver of sea level rise, alongside Greenland’s ice loss and ocean warming. The recent gains offer a glimpse into the complex and dynamic nature of polar systems — and a reminder that short-term shifts do not override longer-term warming trends.

While the study raises new questions about how regional climate variability impacts ice behavior, most experts agree the growth is likely temporary unless supported by broader, sustained changes in global climate patterns.

By Nazrin Sadigova