Increased precipitation in Antarctica will prevent global sea level rise
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
confidence 33/100
While increased snowfall in parts of Antarctica can temporarily offset regional ice losses, overall mass loss from the continent currently outpaces accumulation. Consequently, increased Antarctic precipitation does not prevent global sea level rise.
Evidence for · 3
Pervasive ice sheet mass loss reflects competing ocean and atmosphere processes
2020 · cited by 782
Shepherd et al. (2020) note that mass gains over the ice sheet interiors from increased snow accumulation partially compensate for ice losses.
Evidence against · 4
Pervasive ice sheet mass loss reflects competing ocean and atmosphere processes
2020 · cited by 782
Shepherd et al. (2020) demonstrate that overall ice losses from coastal melting and outlet glaciers heavily outpace interior mass gains, resulting in a net sea level rise contribution.
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More for · 2
Snowfall‐driven mass change on the East Antarctic ice sheet
2012 · cited by 183
Medley et al. (2012) observe that extreme precipitation events lead to significant regional mass accumulations that partially compensate for global ice mass losses.
Sea level rise from West Antarctic mass loss significantly modified by large snowfall anomalies
2023 · cited by 61
Bergman et al. (2023) find that extreme precipitation can temporarily decrease the rate of mass loss and moderate sea level contributions from West Antarctica.
More against · 3
Global sea-level budget 1993–present
2018 · cited by 602
Cazenave et al. (2018) confirm through the global sea-level budget that Antarctica as a whole continues to contribute positively to ongoing global sea-level rise.
Insignificant Change in Antarctic Snowfall Since the International Geophysical Year
2006 · cited by 257
Monaghan et al. (2006) find no statistically significant change in continent-wide snowfall since the 1950s, indicating precipitation is not mitigating sea level rise as expected.
Ice sheet mass balance and sea level
2009 · cited by 73
Cazenave and Lemoine (2009) review mass balance studies and conclude that the Antarctic ice sheet is losing net mass, driving rather than preventing sea level rise.