New analysis says Antarctic ice is melting as much as SIX times as fast as previously thought, massively exacerbating the problem of rising sea levels. This will put millions of people around the globe – especially those in under-developed countries – at risk of losing their homes. Satellite data gathered by the University of California revealed that from 1979 to 1990, Antarctica lost 36 billion tonnes of ice mass each year.

However, this figure massively increased to 228 billion tonnes per year between the years of 2009 and 2017. The research showed global sea levels rose by more than 1.4cm (half an inch) between 1979 and 2017 as a result. University of California scientists state that if trends continue, sea levels will rise by 1.8m by 2100. According to Google’s interactive map, FireTree, a two metre rise could ruin the Netherlands, with most of the country submerged.

England, New York and Netherlands ‘FLOODED by end of century’ as sea levels rise rapidly

In the UK, the north of Scotland would suffer a similar fate and large swathes of the east of England would become uninhabitable. Low lying New York would also be heavily damaged amid rapidly rising sea levels. Study lead Eric Rignot, chair of Earth system science at the University of California, said: "As the Antarctic ice sheet continues to melt away, we expect multi-metre sea level rise from Antarctica in the coming centuries.” What is even more concerning for the experts is that regions which were once considered “stable and immune to change” in East Antarctica are now shedding ice at a rapid rate too.

Experts warn that time is running out to halt rising sea levels