Antarctica has lost 8.3 trillion tons of ice since 1997, a new study found. That's enough to cover the contiguous US in 3 feet of water.

• A new study found that Antarctic ice shelves have shrunk by at least 30% since 1997. 
• That's enough ice that if it melted, it would cover the continental US in 3 feet of water. 
• The scientists say these changes are likely to continue as our world warms. 

Antarctic ice shelves lost about 8.3 trillion tons of ice in the last quarter-century — enough to cover the contiguous US in 3 feet of water.

Put more specifically, four dozen ice shelves have shrunk by at least 30% since 1997, and 28 of those have lost more than half of their ice in that time, reports a new study.