A new scientific study has revealed that some parts of Antarctica are losing grounded ice much faster than researchers had previously anticipated. While large sections of the continent’s coastline remain stable, several vulnerable regions are showing rapid retreat that could influence global sea-level rise in the future.
The study analyzed satellite data collected between 1992 and 2025 to track changes in the “grounding line,” the critical boundary where glaciers stop resting on land and begin floating over the ocean. Scientists say this boundary is crucial because once glaciers lose their grip on bedrock, they can slide into the ocean much faster.
Researchers found that about 77 percent of Antarctica’s coastline remained largely stable over the past three decades. Major ice shelves such as the Ross Ice Shelf, Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, and Amery Ice Shelf showed little change in their grounding lines during the study period.
However, several areas told a different story. Significant retreat was detected in parts of West Antarctica, sections of East Antarctica, and along the Antarctic Peninsula. The most dramatic changes were observed along the coast of the Amundsen Sea, where grounding lines in some locations moved inland by as much as 42 kilometres over the past three decades.
Among the glaciers showing the most significant retreat were Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier, two of the most closely monitored glaciers in Antarctica due to their potential impact on global sea levels.
Overall, the continent lost roughly 12,800 square kilometres of grounded ice between 1996 and 2025 an area nearly half the size of Belgium. Scientists say this loss indicates that certain sections of Antarctica are becoming more vulnerable to long-term ice sheet collapse.
One major reason for the retreat is warm ocean water flowing beneath floating ice shelves. These currents, known as Circumpolar Deep Water, can melt glaciers from below. In some regions the seabed slopes downward toward the centre of the continent, meaning once the retreat begins, glaciers can continue sliding further inland.
The research relied heavily on satellite observations to track these changes across the vast Antarctic region. Scientists used radar instruments from multiple satellite missions, including those operated by the European Space Agency and its Sentinel-1 satellites.
Radar technology is especially useful in polar regions because it can observe the surface through clouds and during the long periods of darkness experienced in Antarctic winters. Researchers used a method known as differential interferometry, which compares radar signals taken at different times to detect even very small changes in ice movement.
The study combined data from numerous satellite programs worldwide, including missions from Europe, Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany, Argentina, and private satellite networks. By merging these datasets, scientists were able to produce the most detailed record yet of grounding line movement across Antarctica.
According to Eric Rignot of the University of California Irvine, the research would not have been possible without decades of international satellite cooperation. The long-term dataset now provides a crucial benchmark for scientists trying to predict future changes in the Antarctic ice sheet.
Experts emphasize that Antarctica holds roughly 90 percent of the planet’s ice. If the entire ice sheet were to melt, global sea levels could rise by several metres over the coming centuries.
Although such a complete melt would take hundreds of years, the early signs of glacier retreat are extremely important. By identifying which regions are stable and which are rapidly changing, scientists can better estimate how Antarctica may contribute to sea-level rise in the future.
Continuous satellite monitoring will remain essential for tracking these changes. As technology improves and more satellites are launched, researchers hope to gain an even clearer understanding of how Antarctica’s massive ice system is responding to warming oceans and a changing climate.