West Antarctic Glacier Loss Worst In 40 Years
Monday, May 12, 2014 - 15:40
in Earth & Climate
Multiple lines of evidence incorporating 40 years of observations that six massive glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector "have passed the point of no return", a worrisome sign for melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Those glaciers already contribute to sea level rise, releasing as much ice into the ocean each year as the entire Greenland Ice Sheet does. They contain enough ice to boost the global sea level by 4 feet (1.2 meters) and are melting faster than most scientists had expected. Rignot said the findings will require that current predictions of sea level rise be revised upward. Is it The Day After Tomorrow imagery that environmentalists and a lot of journalists like to create? read more