00:00Antarctica's tallest ice cliffs collapsed faster than expected.
00:04Then, something stopped the retreat.
00:06Scientists had feared that these towering walls of ice could trigger a chain reaction,
00:11accelerating ice loss and raising global sea levels.
00:15But satellite observations reveal a more complicated picture.
00:18Researchers tracked more than 15,000 Antarctic ice cliffs between 2019 and 2023,
00:25most average just 30 meters tall.
00:27The team then examined four regions with exceptionally tall cliffs,
00:31including one reaching 127 meters.
00:34These cliffs collapsed, and nearby ice retreated faster than existing models predicted.
00:39Yet the retreat did not continue unchecked.
00:42One important clue was the ground beneath the ice.
00:45Rising terrain can leave a thinner layer of ice above it, helping limit further collapse.
00:50As cliffs break apart, they can also become shorter and more stable.
00:53Broken ice and seawater may provide additional support at the cliff face.
00:58The findings challenge the idea that cliff height alone
01:01determines whether collapse will continue inland.
01:04But this is not proof that Antarctic ice loss has stopped.
01:07Instead, the research gives scientists a clearer way to improve sea level rise projections
01:13and understand when rapid ice loss might stabilize.
01:16Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
