Global Warming causing Ice Caps to Thicken

[Gravitymaster 0]

OSLO (Reuters) - Greenland's ice-cap has thickened slightly in recent years despite wide predictions of a thaw triggered by global warming, a team of scientists said on Thursday.

The 3,000-meter (9,842-feet) thick ice-cap is a key concern in debates about climate change because a total melt would raise world sea levels by about 7 meters. And a runaway thaw might slow the Gulf Stream that keeps the North Atlantic region warm.

But satellite measurements showed that more snowfall was falling and thickening the ice-cap, especially at high altitudes, according to the report in the journal Science.

Glaciers at sea level have been retreating fast because of a warming climate, making many other scientists believe the entire ice-cap was thinning.

"The overall ice thickness changes are ... approximately plus 5 cms (1.9 inches) a year or 54 cms (21.26 inches) over 11 years," according to the experts at Norwegian, Russian and U.S. institutes led by Ola Johannessen at the Mohn Sverdrup center for Global Ocean Studies and Operational Oceanography in Norway.

However, they said that the thickening seemed consistent with theories of global warming, blamed by most experts on a build-up of heat-trapping gases from (32.00F).

And the scientists said that the thickening of the ice-cap might be offset by a melting of glaciers around the fringes of Greenland. Satellite data was not good enough to measure the melt nearer sea level.

ICE SHEETS

Most models of global warming indicate that the Greenland ice might melt within thousands of years if warming continues.

Oceans would rise by about 70 meters if the far bigger ice-cap on Antarctica melted along with Greenland. Antarctica's vast size acts as a deep freeze likely to slow any melt of the southern continent.

The panel that advises the United Nations has predicted that global sea levels might rise by almost a meter by 2100 because of a warming climate.

Such a rise would swamp low-lying Pacific islands and warming could trigger more hurricanes, droughts, spread deserts and drive thousands of species to extinction.

Still, a separate study in Science on Thursday said sea levels were probably rising slightly because of a melt of ice sheets.

"Ice sheets now appear to be contributing modestly to sea level rise because warming has increased mass loss from coastal areas more than warming has increased mass gain from enhanced snowfall in cold central regions," it said.

"Greenland presently makes the largest contribution to sea level rise," according to the report by scientists led by Richard Alley of Pennsylvania State University in the United States.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051020/sc_nm/environment_greenland_dc

[Gawain 0]

[liberal shrill] It's the coming of the next ice age!!! It's all Bush's fault!!! Kyoto would've saved us!!! Bush conspired with the weather gods!!! It's junk science!!! We're going to freeze to death during global warming!!!! arrrgggghhhh!!! *head explodes* [/liberal shrill]

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[ReBirth 0]

You do realize that the conclusion of that article is that even though the ice cap is thickening it is melting at the edges and the sea level is rising, right.

"The panel that advises the United Nations has predicted that global sea levels might rise by almost a meter by 2100 because of a warming climate.

Such a rise would swamp low-lying Pacific islands and warming could trigger more hurricanes, droughts, spread deserts and drive thousands of species to extinction."

Ahhh, but screw it. We'll all be dead by 2100 anyway.

[Gawain 0]

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You do realize that the conclusion of that article is that even though ...

What I do realize is that the scientific community is not united in any opinion about global warming.

I also realize that the stuff being described in this article has happened countless times before mankind became an industrialized society.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Gravitymaster 0]

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You do realize that the conclusion of that article is that even though the ice cap is thickening it is melting at the edges and the sea level is rising, right.

No it doesn't.

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And the scientists said that the thickening of the ice-cap might be offset by a melting of glaciers around the fringes of Greenland. Satellite data was not good enough to measure the melt nearer sea level.

[ReBirth 0]

Ok...so you posted an article with ambiguous conclusions and no comment why?

[mr2mk1g 10]

The article also says:

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However, they said that the thickening seemed consistent with theories of global warming, blamed by most experts on a build-up of heat-trapping gases from

And later points out that essentially the thickening is caused by the warmer weather causing more precipitation which falls as snow on the glacier resulting in a thickening.

And it does indeed state that the ice is melting at its edges and in fact states quite clearly that that is due to global warming. Whether or not the whole of the scientific community agrees with that statement, it is made by the article you post.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Ok...so you posted an article with ambiguous conclusions and no comment why?

Apparently, you missed the

[tso-d_chris 0]

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the thickening seemed consistent with theories of global warming, blamed by most experts on a build-up of heat-trapping gases

[EricTheRed 0]

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Ok...so you posted an article with ambiguous conclusions and no comment why?

My guess is he eithr didn't really read the whole thing or didn't really understand what it said. I form this opinion as it appears to contridict his earlier position that there is no reason to worry about global warming.

illegible usually

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Ok...so you posted an article with ambiguous conclusions and no comment why?

My guess is he eithr didn't really read the whole thing or didn't really understand what it said. I form this opinion as it appears to contridict his earlier position that there is no reason to worry about global warming.

Or I posted it because it's controversial and you didn't undertand that.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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the thickening seemed consistent with theories of global warming, blamed by most experts on a build-up of heat-trapping gases

Yep a whole article filled with "seems, could, might and probably
"

[ReBirth 0]

That just gives it more credibility. It means they're studying the issue and drawing conclusions based on the evidence (that are MOST LIKELY correct) without ruling out other possibilities. It's when people stop looking at the alternative that you get into trouble. I'd give you examples, but I don't want to turn this into a Bush bashing thread

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Ok...so you posted an article with ambiguous conclusions and no comment why?

My guess is he eithr didn't really read the whole thing or didn't really understand what it said. I form this opinion as it appears to contridict his earlier position that there is no reason to worry about global warming.

BTW I have never said there was no reason to worry about global warming. I have only said the science is unclear. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't put words in my mouth.

[EricTheRed 0]

Thank you for the correction. I agree that the science is unclear on the EFFECT of global warming.

I had understood your previous posts to mean that the science was unclear on the FACT of global warming.

IMO global warming via the addition of CO2 is a grand global experiment. I don't really enjoy being an unpaid test subject in this experiment.

I think the science is very unequivocal on the fact that change will occur. While change is inevitable, dramatic change is usually catastrophic. I don’t generally look forward to catastrophes.

illegible usually

[ReBirth 0]

But you are being paid. It would be expensive to revamp our pollution spewing factories and plants. That would effect the consumer. Remember, a plasma tv in every home is much more important than clean air.

[EricTheRed 0]

point taken:

I've got no plasma TV yet though so I must not be getting paid enough

I want a raise (and a plasma TV)

illegible usually

[Gravitymaster 0]

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But you are being paid. It would be expensive to revamp our pollution spewing factories and plants. That would effect the consumer. Remember, a plasma tv in every home is much more important than clean air.

Hey.. don't be trash talking my TVs now. I've got a 61" DLP and a 32" LCD. Does that make me a polluter?

Seriously, I think the latest Green Tide due to higher gas prices will do a lot to effect environmental changes. I will also be the first in line when they come out with a bio-diesel/electric hybrid.

[billvon 3,116]

>I think the science is very unequivocal on the fact that change will
> occur. While change is inevitable, dramatic change is usually
> catastrophic. I don’t generally look forward to catastrophes.

I agree. It's like saying that we shouldn't evacuate cities in the paths of hurricanes because they don't know for sure that the hurricane will hit that city, and evacuations are expensive. Why not wait until we know that the storm will hit, or until it hits? We'd save a lot of money that way, and not have to deal with expensive, inconvenient evacuations that the chicken littles are pushing.

[kallend 2,148]

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[liberal shrill] It's the coming of the next ice age!!! It's all Bush's fault!!! Kyoto would've saved us!!! Bush conspired with the weather gods!!! It's junk science!!! We're going to freeze to death during global warming!!!! arrrgggghhhh!!! *head explodes* [/liberal shrill]

Happy to oblige.

It's ALL Bush's fault, the lying moron!

There, feel better now?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kelpdiver 2]

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I also realize that the stuff being described in this article has happened countless times before mankind became an industrialized society.

IOW, before we had oceanfront property, or for that matter, the majority of people living along the coastlines.

The worst case scenario of 70m would be really bad for the people of Florida.

[Gawain 0]

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[liberal shrill] It's the coming of the next ice age!!! It's all Bush's fault!!! Kyoto would've saved us!!! Bush conspired with the weather gods!!! It's junk science!!! We're going to freeze to death during global warming!!!! arrrgggghhhh!!! *head explodes* [/liberal shrill]

Happy to oblige.

It's ALL Bush's fault, the lying moron!

There, feel better now?

Your head didn't explode though...just when we're getting to the good stuff.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[kallend 2,148]

Quote

Quote

Quote

[liberal shrill] It's the coming of the next ice age!!! It's all Bush's fault!!! Kyoto would've saved us!!! Bush conspired with the weather gods!!! It's junk science!!! We're going to freeze to death during global warming!!!! arrrgggghhhh!!! *head explodes* [/liberal shrill]

Happy to oblige.

It's ALL Bush's fault, the lying moron!

There, feel better now?

Your head didn't explode though...just when we're getting to the good stuff.

It takes practice.


Besides, Slim Whitman wasn't singing "Indian Love Call"

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gawain 0]

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Quote

Quote

Quote

[liberal shrill] It's the coming of the next ice age!!! It's all Bush's fault!!! Kyoto would've saved us!!! Bush conspired with the weather gods!!! It's junk science!!! We're going to freeze to death during global warming!!!! arrrgggghhhh!!! *head explodes* [/liberal shrill]

Happy to oblige.

It's ALL Bush's fault, the lying moron!

There, feel better now?

Your head didn't explode though...just when we're getting to the good stuff.

It takes practice.

Besides, Slim Whitman wasn't singing "Indian Love Call"

The Cattle Call might have a quicker affect.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[lawrocket 3]

So, what this article is saying is that more of our fresh water is being deposited n the ice shelfs. Lord have mercy! It appears that with all of our water thickening the ice, Rnald Reagan and both of the Bushes will have caused the greatest worldwide drought and famine to have ever existed.

"I broke the dam."

My wife is hotter than your wife.