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An Antarctic glacier twice the size of Scotland is melting much faster than scientists had bargained for.
The Pine Island Glacier in west Antarctica is losing ice four times quicker than a decade ago, researchers warned today.
If the thinning continues to accelerate at this speed, the main section of the glacier will be gone within the next 100 years - six times faster than was previously estimated.
Warming up of the surrounding seas or a shift in the currents that warm water to the region - itself driven by changes in climate - could be behind the unanticipated rise.
The thinning glacier - which covers an area of 5,400km - has enough water to raise sea levels by 3cm, Professor Andrew Shepherd of the University of Leeds said.
But the melting could also expose stationary ice behind it to warm sea water potentially driving up sea levels by another 25cm.
