never, the Antarctic was as warm as today. The melting of the ice could have serious consequences: The sea level rise more than expected.

By the global warming the penguins lose to the South pole, their habitat photo: Ueslei Marcelino/reuters

SãO PAULO/POTSDAM afp/taz | researchers have recorded a new temperature record in the Antarctic. As the Brazilian soil scientist, Carlos Schaefer announced on Thursday, was at the Northern tip of the Antarctic on 9. February measured a temperature of 20.75 degrees. "There has never been in the Antarctic, such a high temperature," said Schaefer. It was the first Time that the 20-degree mark had been exceeded. The last Antarctic temperature record was measured in the year 1982 on Signy Island, a subantarctic island in the Antarctica. There were at the time of 19.8 degrees.

The high temperatures have serious consequences. A new study from the Friday to, among other things, the Potsdam, has Institute for climate impact has worked on research (PIK): the melting of The ice in the Antarctic and the related rise in sea levels could be then, already in this century, significantly more than previously expected. According to the investigation of international teams of Scientists up to the year 2100 alone, this factor could lead to an increase of 58 inches. On the PIK climate scientist said Anders levermann on Friday.

However, there are the forecasts of the experts regarding the Antarctic is a large bandwidth. In the case of unabated greenhouse gas emissions, the likely effect of the rise in sea levels of between 6 and 58 centimetres, it is stated in the study. He added, however, to reduce the emissions quickly, lying in the range between 4 and 37 centimeters.

According to the UN, the past decade has been the warmest in the Antarctic since records began. The melting of glaciers and ice sheets in the Antarctic due to global warming is a major factor for the rise in sea level worldwide. However, Schaefer said that the temperature record does not allow for any conclusions with regard to future climate developments. It was merely a data point.

"Antarctica-factor is the biggest Unknown, but as the biggest risk for the sea level around the world," said Levermann. He stressed that the new research results provided important information for the protection of the coast. A high probability there is, therefore, that the value of 58 centimetres is not exceeded.

"The more computer simulation models we use, which are all slightly different dynamic representations of the Antarctic ice sheet, the greater the range of results we get – but the more robust the estimates, we can the society provide," said Co-author Sophie Nowicki, from Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center. Although there are "still great uncertainties", but is it possible to improve the understanding of the largest ice sheet of the earth resistant.

In the longer term, so in the coming centuries to millennia, the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet is according to the study, the potential sea-level to several tens of meters to raise. "What we do know with certainty is that the Burning of coal, Oil and Gas is driving the risks for the Coastal cities from New York to Mumbai, Hamburg, or Shanghai, more and more," said Levermann.

Previous forecasts for sea level rise due to global warming, the thermal expansion of warming ocean water and melting mountain considered especially glaciers as the most important factors for the rise in the sea level. Also the melting of the Greenland ice sheet plays a role.

The now in the journal Earth System Dynamics of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) published new research results according to the proportion of the Antarctic is likely to be already in the foreseeable future, the most important factor.

All of these factors together, the overall risk of sea-level rise result. "The inclusion of the other contributions to sea-level rise from Greenland, mountain glaciers and the expansion of the oceans may lead to a sea level rise of up to 150 centimeters," said Levermann, with a view to the period up to the end of the century.

In the past 100 years, there had been an increase of a total of about 19 inches.