Polar ice disappearing fast

gletscherIce sheets over Antarctica and Greenland are shrinking at an incredible rate of 120 cubic miles per year, and accelerating (the rate of ice loss has more than doubled since 2009).  While part of Antarctica is actually increasing in ice cover, overall the continent is on a definite decline.  Most of the ice loss, 90 cubic miles per year, is as a result of melting in Greenland.  The data comes from the CryoSat-2 satellite measuring the altitude of the ice over the continents.  Scientists have been using satellites to measure ice levels for about twenty years now.  You can read more about this at this link.

It’s sad to see our society at such an advanced level technologically, yet turning a blind eye to this problem.  Man-made climate change is a fact and one that will have to be dealt with sooner or later.  It’ll be expensive, but the costs only go up over time.

Why climate change scares me

If you want to know why I feel the way I do about climate change, watch this video from a TEDx conference two years ago:

The speaker talks about the path we’re on, where it’s headed, and what that really means for us.  He paints a pretty dire picture…and it’s worth noting that this video is two years old.  In that time, there’s been no action taken, and no science found to refute these conclusions…yet we remain mired in place, unable to embrace the science and take action.

Melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet

gletscherScientist studying the ice in Antarctica have found that a very large area, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is melting at an accelerating rate, and has already reached a point of instability, where its melting will continue regardless of any actions we take to reduce the effects of global warming.  It is past the point of no return, so to speak.  The impact of this is expected to be a global rise in seal levels of several feet (up to 10 feet, potentially) over the next couple of centuries.  Yes, that makes it a problem that won’t affect us, but we have a moral obligation to future generations to provide them with the same potential for prosperity that we enjoy.

The cause of this melting is deep, warmer water being pulled to the surface by increasingly powerful winds circling the continent (which is generally believed to be caused by global warming).  As far back as 1978, scientists were warning that global warming could lead to this…and now it’s happening (unless you’re a Republican with your head in the sand).

Read more at the NYTimes.

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