More Evidence That Antarctica Is Melting Due To Climate Change


Every day the evidence for the reality of climate change gets stronger and stronger. A group of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey are publishing an article in the Journal of Geophysical Research this week that shows that glaciers in Antarctica are moving much faster than before due to melting. Some highlights from Science Daily:

Using radar images acquired by European ERS-1 and -2 satellites, scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracked the flow rate of over 300 previously unstudied glaciers. They found a 12% increase in glacier speed from 1993 to 2003. These observations - that echo recent findings from coastal Greenland - indicate that the cause is melting of the lower glaciers, which flow directly into the sea. As they thin, the buoyancy of the ice can lift the glaciers off their rock beds, allowing them to slide faster.

In February this year, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that they could not provide an upper limit on the rate of sea-level rise from Antarctica in coming centuries because of a lack of understanding of the behaviour of the large ice sheets. These new results give scientists a clearer picture about the way that climate warming can affect glaciers both in the Arctic and Antarctic. Furthermore, they pave the way for more reliable projections of future sea level rise, and provide a better basis for policy decisions.

Lead author Dr Hamish Pritchard says, “The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced some of the fastest warming on Earth, nearly 3°C over the last half-century. Eighty-seven percent of its glaciers have been retreating during this period and now we see these glaciers are also speeding up. It’s important that we use tools such as satellite technology that allow us to monitor changes in remote and inaccessible glaciers on a regional scale. Understanding what’s happening now gives us our best chance of predicting what’s likely to happen in the future.”

Read it all.
(I took this picture of a glacier while in Alaska several years ago. The evidence for climate change was quite apparent on this trip as well. The glaciers in Alaska are quickly receding.)

Comments

MadPriest said…
Of course, Antarctica is melting but it's not due to global warming. All these impending environment disasters are the direct cause of liberal revisionism in the Anglican Communion and the teaching of evolution in schools. Chuck, if you are going to become a well-respected blogger, like what I am, then you must always check your facts before going to press.
June 7, 2007 at 5:12 AM
Chuck Blanchard said…
Madpriest:

Thanks for the correction!
June 7, 2007 at 2:18 PM
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