Snowing ocean water may stabilize West Antarctic ice sheet: experts

Pouring gigatons of artificial snow on a glacier could curb an ice collapse in western Antarctica and prevent sea level rises in the long run, according to a study published on Wednesday.

The icebergs of Antarctica. [File photo: IC]

Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) suggested a new way of stabilizing the ice sheet by generating snow from ocean water and distributing it with snow cannons. The project requires at least 12,000 wind turbines to dump over 7,400 gigatons of man-made snowfall.

"Snow can indeed push the ice sheet back toward a stable regime and stop the instability (of the ice sheet)," Johannes Feldmann, lead author of the study, said.

Building industrial infrastructure would cost the West Antarctic its uniquity as a natural reserve, co-author Anders Lavermann said in a news release.

However, "the fundamental trade-off is whether we as humanity want to sacrifice Antarctica to save the currently inhabited coastal regions -- and the cultural heritage that we have built and are building on our shores," Lavermann added.

Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado, questioned the viability of Feldmann and his team's proposal. He told USA Today that the slushy snow produced from salt water is "far more prone to melt," which can worsen the original problems.