If an “ice plug” near the coast of Wilkes Basin melts or breaks off into icebergs, the basin’s huge quantities of water will drain into the ocean. Although no one knows precisely what might destabilize the Wilkes Basin, we can be fairly certain that further global warming, caused by greenhouse-gas emissions, will increase the risk.
因此我们现在必须关注其他地方相似的地形条件。如果威尔克斯盆地沿岸附近的“冰塞”融化或者断成冰山，那么盆地巨大的储水量终将流入大海。虽然没有人知道什么会破坏威尔克斯盆地的稳定，但我们可以肯定温室气体排放造成的进一步全球变暖会加大这样的风险。