Scientists discover a scary Antarctic mystery - how worried should we be?

Perhaps we need to worry a lot, but without data, we can only speculate.

Antarctica may be melting faster than thought, according to a new study. Antarctica is a region of concern because its ice, if melted, would substantially raise sea levels and change the face of the Earth as we know it. Scientists are concerned that global warming is driving the accelerated melting of Antarctica.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- A new study of water on the Antarctic continent suggests it may be melting faster than previously believed. Researches with Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory made the claim in the Journal Nature last week.

Working through the Arctic summer, researchers did a survey to assess the amount of water flowing on the Arctic surface. While they expected to find pools of water across the continent, they instead discovered vast rivers of flowing water as well as large pools. Simply put, they found a lot more water on the surface than expected.

So, is it time to build an ark? Not so fast.

Here's what the study suggests, and what will require follow up research to confirm. There seems to be more water flowing on the surface of the Antarctic ice than scientists anticipated. It is powerful evidence that the Antarctic may be more susceptible to small temperature increases than previously believed.

There are several caveats. First, there does not seem to be a quantification of how much free standing and flowing water there has ever been, or presently is across the whole Antarctic continent. Without data, everything is speculation. Educated speculation sure, but still speculation.

Second, there is no reason to believe this increased pooling and flowing of water is significant from a sea-level standpoint because there's no evidence it is flowing into the ocean at any meaningful rate. So what of water pools in Antarctica? If it simply refreezes a couple months later, it will not contribute to sea level rise.

So, what should we make of this? It's possible the Antarctic ice is more susceptible to global warming, so this should be studied. A baseline assessment should be made so there's data future studies can refer to.

That water flows and pools in Antarctica isn't new information. It's been documented since humans have visited the continent. And without a survey of the continent, we don't have much of a way to tell what is going on, or if we should worry.

And that's the one fact that should worry us more than any other, we lack understanding.

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