Abrupt and potentially irreversible changes in Antarctica driven by climate change could lift global oceans by metres and lead to "catastrophic consequences for generations", scientists warned Wednesday.

More broadly, a state-of-knowledge review by a score of top experts revealed accelerating shifts across the region that are often both cause and effect of global warming, according to a study published in Nature.

"Antarctica is showing worrying signs of rapid change across its ice, ocean and ecosystems," lead author and Australian National University professor Nerilie Abram told AFP.

"Some of these abrupt changes will be difficult to stop."

Shifts in different facets of Antarctica's climate system amplify each other and have accelerated the pace of warming globally as well, she said.

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