The Antarctic Ice Shelf Controversy
There are claims circulating online based on a study documenting an increase in Antarctic ice shelves over the past decade. These claims serve to cast doubt on global warming as a whole. These are the following or similar statements: “661,000,000,000 tons. Ice growth! in Antarctica from 2009 to 2019.Climate change, in your face!" . These congestion contributions are also available in Italian, for example: “Infine le osservazioni mostrano che le piattaforme di ghiaccio antartiche sono aumentate nell'ultimo decennio di 661 Gt (Gigaton) pari a 661miliardi di tonnellate (661.000.000.000).Questo per sottolineare che la minchiata del Riscaldamento Global è l'enesima colossal truffa ai danni dei subumani. ” Or in Greek:“ σε maza το συνολικό κέρδος υπολστη σ ”661 δισεκατομμ# τνους !! Σε ογκο αυτό είναι πάνω από 700 δισεκατομμ# κυβικά μέτρα.
But is that really what the study shows? Or is it a misinterpretation of the research?

| Claims | Fact checks |
|---|---|
| The ice mass in Antarctica increased from 2009 to 2019. | While the study shows that overall ice shelf area has increased, this does not mean that the total mass of ice in Antarctica has increased. In fact, the same study shows significant ice loss during this period. |
| The growth of ice shelves in Antarctica disproves global warming. | The growth of ice shelves is actually a sign of accelerated ice melting in the higher areas of Antarctica, caused by global warming. |
| The increase in ice shelves at the South Pole belies warnings about climate change. | Despite the increase in ice shelf area, the total mass of ice in Antarctica is decreasing. This shows that the region is indeed affected by the effects of climate change. |
| The increase in ice shelves proves that Antarctica is gaining ice, not losing it. | Experts emphasize that the growth of the ice shelf actually indicates accelerated ice melting, which is causing more ice to flow into the sea. The Antarctic continent loses around 150 billion tons of ice every year. |
| The study showing ice shelf growth refutes claims of global warming. | A single study cannot refute the widespread scientific consensus about global warming and human-caused climate change. Global warming is well scientifically proven and recognized by the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). |
Antarctica, defined under the 1961 Antarctic Treaty as the entire area south of the 60th parallel, is about 98 percent ice, including ice shelves that lie over the sea rather than on land.
The study and its interpretations
The study in question, published in the journal The Cryosphere , monitored Antarctic ice shelves from 2009 to 2019 and found that their area expanded by a total of 5,305 square kilometers. However, the results also show that the Antarctic ice flows faster, which leads to an expansion of the ice shelves. This does not indicate a general increase in ice, but rather that ice in the higher areas of Antarctica is melting more quickly and flowing into the sea.
Expert statements and background information
Raúl Cordero, a climatologist at the University of Hanover and the University of Santiago in Chile, explains that the extent of ice shelves is actually an anomaly. He finds that Antarctica is out of mass balance, meaning more mass is being lost in the form of accelerated runoff or melting than is being gained in the form of snowfall.
A study in the journal Nature Communication from 2023 comes to a similar result. It notes that around 3.3 trillion tonnes of ice have been lost around the Amundsen Sea since 1996, which alone has contributed around 9 millimeters to global sea level rise.
Climate change is scientifically proven
Despite the controversial interpretations of the Antarctic ice shelf study, there remains a broad consensus among researchers worldwide about the reality of man-made climate change. The sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly confirms that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land areas.
A 2020 study in Nature shows that Antarctica's temperature rise over the past three decades has been more than three times the global average. The IPCC special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate predicts an increasingly rapid reduction in ice masses at the poles.
Conclusion: Context is everything
A study on the Antarctic ice shelf does not disprove man-made climate change. Although some figures show an increase in ice shelves in Antarctica between 2009 and 2019, experts confirm that there is an overall loss of ice mass in Antarctica. In addition, global warming is clearly scientifically proven. It is therefore important to consider the facts in their overall context and not misuse isolated data to support preconceived opinions.
Also read:
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

