Scientists agree that the key player in this scenario is the West Antarctic ice sheet, a Brazil-size mass of frozen water that is as much as 7000 feet thick.

科学家们一致认为，这一情境中的关键推手是南极西部的冰层，这是一块跟巴西（面积）差不多大小的冰原，厚达7000英尺。

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"The key difference between our model and previous models is that we include heat exchange between water flowing through the ice sheet and the ice," said Rajaram.

“我们的模型和以前模型之间主要的区别是，我们将流经冰盖的水和冰之间的热交换也考虑在内，”拉贾拉姆说。

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The LRO has also detected an abundance of hydrogen, thought to be a key indicator of ice, at the poles.

此外，“月球侦察者轨道器”还在月球上发现了大量的氢，这是存在冰的关键表象。

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Retreating Arctic ice is considered a key indicator of the pace of global warming by environmentalists, and one that could have devastating knock-on repercussions for the wider climate, including warmer oceans and rising sea levels.

CNN: Arctic melt worse than predictions

Studies like 'Ice Bridge' are key.

CNN: NASA flights will study Antarctic ice changes

Nonetheless, the researchers say, thinning has intensified at key locations where ice streams enter the ocean.

BBC: Laser satellite records ice loss