Ongoing loss of Antarctic sea ice could result in amplified warming in Australia and the rest of the southern hemisphere as scientists warn the icy continent is at risk of "abrupt and potentially irreversible changes".
Regional temperatures above global averages are among possible "knock-on effects" from disappearing sea ice and other interlocking changes researchers have observed across the frozen landscape.
The study published in Nature by Australian universities and research centres also warns of sea level rise and the growing risk of emperor penguin extinction.
