Satellite gravity data from NASA's GRACE and GRACE-FO missions show that the rate of ice loss from Antarctica increased from 40 billion tons per year in the early 2000s to 252 billion tons per year in the mid-2010s. The acceleration is largely due to increased ice loss from West Antarctica, where several large glaciers are rapidly thinning and retreating.

The GRACE and GRACE-FO missions measure changes in Earth's gravity field over time. By tracking these changes, scientists can determine where mass is being lost or gained on Earth's surface. The missions have been used to study a variety of processes, including ice sheet mass loss, groundwater depletion, and sea level rise.

The ice loss from Antarctica is contributing to sea level rise, which is a major threat to coastal communities around the world. Sea level rise is also leading to increased coastal erosion, flooding, and salinization of freshwater resources.

The rapid acceleration of ice loss from Antarctica is a serious concern, and it is important to understand the causes of this acceleration in order to develop strategies to mitigate its effects.