Antarctica contains most of Earth’s fresh water stored in two large ice sheets. The more stable East Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger and older, rests on higher topography, and hides entire mountain ranges and ancient lakes. The less stable West Antarctic Ice Sheet is smaller and younger and was formed on what was once a shallow sea. Recent observations made with several independent satellite measurements demonstrate that several regions of Antarctica are losing mass, flowing faster, and retreating where ice is exposed to warm ocean waters. The Antarctic contribution to sea level rise has reached ~8 millimeters since 1992. In the future, if warming ocean waters and increased surface meltwater trigger faster ice flow, sea level rise will accelerate.

中文翻译：

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南极冰盖的历史、质量损失、结​​构和动态行为

南极洲包含储存在两个大冰盖中的大部分地球淡水。更稳定的南极东部冰盖更大、更古老，地势更高，隐藏着整个山脉和古老的湖泊。不稳定的南极西部冰盖更小、更年轻，形成于曾经的浅海。最近通过几项独立卫星测量进行的观察表明，南极洲的几个地区正在失去质量，流动速度更快，并在冰暴露于温暖海水的地方后退。自 1992 年以来，南极对海平面上升的贡献已达到约 8 毫米。未来，如果海水变暖和地表融水增加引发更快的冰流，海平面上升将加速。