A new study suggests that climate change is affecting the southern polar region on a much larger scale than previously believed, with a hidden ice melt pattern that is troubling climate scientists.

Antarctica had been seen as more stable than the Arctic, which the most extreme predictions fear could be ice-free by 2040 due to global warming.  But the study's authors discovered there is a significant amount of melting going on underneath the ice. 

"We came up with a new method that allows us to map grounding lines and study their retreat all around Antarctica," said the study's lead author, Hannes Konrad of the University of Leeds. 

As the grounding line retreats, the ability of the Antarctic ice sheet to lock away freshwater from the oceans is diminished, which will result in more fresh water being added to the Oceans.

"Antarctica can add an additional 4.5 meters in sea levels into the world's oceans, so just imagine what will happen to a city like London that lies at this altitude above sea level," said Konrad to Germany's DW News.  "This won't happen immediately so there's still some time to adjust but it will happen and we have to prepare for it and take action," he added.

Antarctica is the largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet, and has the potential to significantly raise sea water levels across the world.  That's a real danger for island nations and coastal cities, which could be flooded.