Retreat of Antarctic ice gathers pace

FT ^ | April 21 2005 19:03 | By Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent

[Imperialist]

"There's land under that thar ice"

How much land? Thanks.

[Imperialist]

Kind of interesting article about world's largest iceberg breaking a chunk off of Antartica, mentions how the sun will not shine on Antartica until August 20:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1083743.cms


"That's the only record we've got of it," at this stage, he said. The last of the sun's rays were hitting the frozen region on Wednesday, as the southern hemisphere winter closes in on the region. Sunlight will return to the Antarctica on August 20.

[Always Right]

Glaciers in the Antarctic are retreating at an increasing rate, in what scientists said on Thursday was a clear sign of climate change.

Some call this summer.

[Always Right]

David Vaughan, one of the authors of the study, said: "The widespread retreat of the glaciers on the Antarctic peninsula over the past 50 years was largely caused by climate change.

Glaciers have been retreating for 20,000 years, but that is another story.

[kabar]

We seem to have a difference of opinon.

Glaciers are growing around the world, including the United States --Antarctic Ice Sheet Growing Thicker

[Imperialist]

"There's land under that thar ice"

How much land? Thanks.


http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ay.html

Answered my own question. Looks like there is quite a lot of land under Antartica so that ice will add to the Ocean.

[Hardastarboard]

rate of retreat accelerated to 50m per year

50m per year? 150 feet? That's little more than random variation. Hell, my lot is nearly that long.

[Imperialist]

"Antarctica represents about 9 percent of Earth's continental crust and has been in a near-polar position for more than 100 million years."

http://www.house.gov/defazio/antarctica/antarcticafacts.htm


Yeah, right, like we know what happend 100 million years ago. It does mention that it is 9% of crust material though. 9% is a lot, but is it enough to raise the sea level 200 feet? I don't think so.

[tortoise]

We'll beat it all the way back to the 90th parallel!