Antarctica is now experiencing the extreme effects of global warming, which is even greater than previously estimated by scientists, according to a new study.

This extreme phenomenon led to the melting of the Great Ice Sheet of West Antarctica now undergoing an irreversible ice loss that can increase sea levels up to a height of 10 feet. Meanwhile, in the Arctic, climate change is also melting the frozen continent, leading to more intense summer heat waves.

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In the Antarctic, this massive glacier is melting and water that will be released can cause sea levels to reach up to 10 feet, climate scientists warn. Scientists are now on site to study the Totten Glacier in East Antarctica where the thinning of the ice cover is now occurring faster than anywhere else on the region.

Scientists believe the ice has been melting at a more rapid rate than ever before due to liquid water flowing underneath the ice. This flowing liquid water under the ice is found in a valley under the Totten Glacier that measures 40 miles long and almost 19 miles wide.

The ice doesn't end at the glacier since the ice sheets extend into its surrounding waters. The loss of ice will become more dramatic at an even unprecedented rate when global warming continues to affect them.

This same phenomenon has also been observed in other western regions of Antarctica. According to Martin Siegert of the Grantham Institute at Imperial College, London, this warm water surrounding the ice in West Antarctica is causing erosion of ice and could also occur Eastern Antarctica, as well.

New analysis of global precipitation also shows global warming will not cause any additional snowfall or dramatic changes in Antarctica that can halt sea level rise.

Even if warmer temperatures can add moisture to the atmosphere such as snow in Antarctica, the issue here is that this hasn't been seen in the last 50 years of records, according to Peter Clark from the Oregon State University.

The loss of glaciers and ice sheets in Antarctica can lead to a dramatic rise in oceans around the hemisphere and can affect coastal waters in the U.S.

Scientists hope these findings can better prepare industrialized nations for the onslaught of climate change.

This study was published in the journal, Nature Geoscience.

Tagsantarctic melting, totten glacier, antarctic ice sheets glaciers melting warm water, global warming, Why Antarctica is Melting Fast: Massive Valleys of Warm Water Under Ice, Antarctica