After nearly 20 years of decline, the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) unexpectedly gained mass between 2021 and 2023, according to a study in *Science China Earth Sciences*. This gain—about 107.79 gigatonnes of ice annually—was due to “unusually heavy snowfall,” which slowed sea level rise by 0.30 mm per year.
The AIS, especially in West and parts of East Antarctica, has long contributed to global sea-level rise. The turnaround was detected using GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite data, which track changes in Earth’s gravity to monitor ice loss or gain.
Despite the positive shift, scientists warn it’s temporary. “This historic turnaround doesn’t mean a lasting recovery,” researchers stated. Sustained ice gain would require consistent snowfall and cooling—conditions unlikely under current climate trends.
The underlying problem remains. Rising temperatures reduce snowfall, and warming oceans continue to melt ice from below. “The climate crisis is still a threat,” the study emphasizes.
In short, while the recent gains offer a brief pause, the long-term outlook for Antarctica’s ice—and global sea levels—remains concerning.
