Satellite Captures Antarctic Ice Shelf's Collapse - Political Fever

ViolaLee · #1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

The Larsen Ice Shelf has been under careful observation since 1995, when its northernmost sector, known as Larsen A, collapsed in a similarly dramatic event.

The entire Larsen Ice Shelf now is about 40 percent of its original size.

``We knew what was left would collapse eventually, but the speed of it is staggering,'' said David Vaughan, a glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey. ``Hard to believe that 500 million billion tons of ice sheet has disintegrated in less than a month.''

Previous measurements showed the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed an average of more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit during the past half-century, a rate that is as much as five times faster than the global average.

But the overall climate picture in Antarctica is anything but consistent. In fact, glaciers elsewhere on the continent are both thickening and thinning as temperatures show conflicting climate trends.

In 1995, when Larsen A broke off, the summer melt had persisted for 80 days, about 20 days longer than average.

As for Larsen B, satellite images show that virtual ponds of melted water were forming atop the ice in recent months. Later images showed the water was seeping into the ice sheet's interior, accelerating its demise.

The next portion of the ice shelf is known as Larsen C. It is losing stability and could suffer the same fate in the coming years if the warming trend continues, researchers said.

And even larger ice shelves elsewhere on the continent's coastline may be just a few summertime degrees away from the same fate.

``Other ice shelves are closer to the breaking point than we previously thought,'' Scambos said. ``Breakups in some other areas, such as the Ross Ice Shelf, could lead to increases in ice flow off the Antarctic and cause sea level to rise.''

SPACE.com -- Satellite Captures Antarctic Ice Shelf's Collapse

Global warming deniars, let's hear you deny this.

Bourne · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:28 PM

Interesting and yes, it's evidence of climatological changes. The question is are those changes man made or geophysical? I tend to think it is simply natural forces causing the changes.

AmericanDreamer · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:34 PM

I agree that this world has gone through many climate phases in it's history, and to blame the warming trend on one thing is ignorant and ridiculous.

There has been global cooling as well in our history, in addition to global warming. A natural phenomenom.

ViolaLee · #4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmericanDreamer

and to blame the warming trend on one thing is ignorant and ridiculous.

Most educated people could say the same about you.

xjoe3x · #5 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaLee

Most educated people could say the same about you.

Really good argument there. That was an excellent rebuttal. (sarcasm)

ViolaLee · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:13 PM

I've shown the proof, the satellite picture. The scientific evidence. I get a response of ridiculous ignorance about ridiculous ignorance and I'm supposed to give a rebuttal?

LOL!!!!

ViolaLee · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:18 PM

That was the Larson ice shelf. Here's another ice shelf that's getting ready to break off.

Quote:

Morning Edition, March 26, 2008 · Warmer air temperatures have triggered the collapse of an enormous ice shelf along the coast of Antarctica, scientists say.

Antarctica's Wilkins Ice Shelf is a plate of permanent floating ice that covers an area the size of Connecticut. The shelf started to collapse late last month, when a large iceberg 25 miles long broke off and floated away. Since then, an area the size of Chicago has broken up, probably because of warming and the action of waves.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that air temperatures in this part of Antarctica, in the continent's southwestern peninsula, have risen dramatically over the past 50 years. This has hastened the melting and breakup of several other ice shelves in the Antarctic. The Wilkins Ice Shelf is the largest one to experience such widespread collapse.

Scientists point out that the latest breakup won't raise worldwide sea levels since the ice shelf is floating in the ocean already.

xjoe3x · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaLee

I've shown the proof, the satellite picture. The scientific evidence. I get a response of ridiculous ignorance about ridiculous ignorance and I'm supposed to give a rebuttal?

LOL!!!!

Bourne said it:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bourne

Interesting and yes, it's evidence of climatological changes.

It was talking about the cause of the changes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bourne

changes. The question is are those changes man made or geophysical?

The was nothing of "ridiculous ignorance" in the statement:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmericanDreamer

I agree that this world has gone through many climate phases in it's history, and to blame the warming trend on one thing is ignorant and ridiculous.

There has been global cooling as well in our history, in addition to global warming. A natural phenomenom.

You are proving "what" but not addressing "why". "Why" is the much more difficult question to address. There is a divide about this question. Many believe it to because of man, while many others believe it to be the natural cyclic nature of the earth. Also, that we may be due for another ice age.

Bourne · #9 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaLee

I've shown the proof, the satellite picture. The scientific evidence. I get a response of ridiculous ignorance about ridiculous ignorance and I'm supposed to give a rebuttal?

LOL!!!!

Well, you picture only shows seperation but it doesn't explain the cause. Your article likewise only addresses the action and it wisely doesn't speculate about the cause.

Man made causes for this type of geophysical event haven't been proven and it's more likely that natural causes resulted in the seperation.

ViolaLee · #10 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xjoe3x

The was nothing of "ridiculous ignorance" in the statement:

Are you serious? You were part of the conversation and you don't remember how it went? Lucky for you, it's right there in black and white, you even quoted from it. I think you should go back and see what that quote was referring to. I don't think I'll bother wasting my time arguing with a strange and illogical strawman like this! LOL!

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