Greenland's Ice will get thicker before it gets thinner. Or is it the other way around?
October 23, 2005 10:39 PM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
So if its thickening its probably because of global warming and if its melting then its probably because of global warming.....ok.
posted by Ron at 10:52 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Ron at 10:52 PM on October 23, 2005
There are a number of places where the warmer conditions immediately at the end of the last ice age actually increased the size of glaciers, since warm air could hold more water and yet it was still cold enough to snow. For example, glacial maximum (measured by ice) was 14,500 years ago on Vancouver Island, whereas climatic minimum (maximum coldness) was 18,000 years ago or so (C-14 years). So it is entirely possible for increased snowfall to be associated with the global warming. The point being: apparently contradictory patterns can be entirely consistent within such a complex system as Earth's climate.
This (PDF) is an excellent, readable, yet authoritative account of the current arctic global warming situation. It is not a fun read. Getting this kind of news filtered through the news media is obviously pretty hit and miss.
posted by Rumple at 11:02 PM on October 23, 2005
This (PDF) is an excellent, readable, yet authoritative account of the current arctic global warming situation. It is not a fun read. Getting this kind of news filtered through the news media is obviously pretty hit and miss.
posted by Rumple at 11:02 PM on October 23, 2005
This is a perfect example of why the more precise members of the scientific community like to call it 'anthropogenic climate change' rather than 'global warming'. It's a big big system (none bigger that interest us) and local fluctuations such as increased ice caps due to more wet snow are the type of thing that happens. This provides a big fat zero amount of evidence to 'throw the entire global warming theory into doubt' which no doubt some astroturf pundit will soon claim.
posted by wilful at 11:34 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by wilful at 11:34 PM on October 23, 2005
"And in a span of about 1,000 years, he added, the Greenland ice sheet may disappear, raising Earth’s sea level by about six meters (20 feet)."
Hardly sounds like a major threat at the average rate of a quarter inch per year...
Has anyone read this article on a possible quick fix?
posted by hjo3 at 12:49 AM on October 24, 2005
Hardly sounds like a major threat at the average rate of a quarter inch per year...
Has anyone read this article on a possible quick fix?
posted by hjo3 at 12:49 AM on October 24, 2005
It would be neat if posts gave the vaguest idea what they were about without having to click. Maybe it's just me.
posted by kjh at 12:49 AM on October 24, 2005
posted by kjh at 12:49 AM on October 24, 2005
hjo3, I imagine that prediction concerns only the disappearance of Greenland's ice sheet. If Greenland's is going, then I imagine more are to follow.
posted by Plinko at 1:34 AM on October 24, 2005
posted by Plinko at 1:34 AM on October 24, 2005
The title and post text would have been better, reversed.
Consider that climate change could disrupt the Gulf Stream, which would affect the climate of the upper Atlantic -- making it cooler. It isn't all one way.
posted by dhartung at 3:29 AM on October 24, 2005
Consider that climate change could disrupt the Gulf Stream, which would affect the climate of the upper Atlantic -- making it cooler. It isn't all one way.
posted by dhartung at 3:29 AM on October 24, 2005
It would be neat if posts gave the vaguest idea what they were about without having to click. Maybe it's just me.
I thought using the phonetic alphabet for WTF was pretty clever. Or maybe I just like thinking.
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 11:00 AM on October 24, 2005
I thought using the phonetic alphabet for WTF was pretty clever. Or maybe I just like thinking.
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 11:00 AM on October 24, 2005
You rang?
posted by WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot at 2:55 PM on October 24, 2005
posted by WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot at 2:55 PM on October 24, 2005
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posted by nightchrome at 10:45 PM on October 23, 2005