Ocean driving Antarctic ice loss

Most of the ice being lost from Antarctica is going as a result of warm water eating the fringes of the continent, scientists say.

The researchers used a satellite laser to measure the thinning occurring on ice shelves - the floating tongues of ice that jut out from the land.

The team's analysis indicates the shelves' shrinkage is the result of warm water getting under the floating ice to melt it from below. Prof David Vaughan, from the British Antarctic Survey, describes the research.