Anarctica 'Melting For 10,000 Years'

Ananova ^ | 1-2-2003

[blam]

Antarctica 'melting for 10,000 years'

There is new evidence parts of the Antarctic ice sheet have been naturally melting for thousands of years.

The research suggests the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been contributing water to the ocean for the last 10,000 years.

Scientists analysed loose rocks to find out when they were dropped by the melting glaciers.

And if melting carries on at the same pace, within another 7,000 years an area of around 360,000 square miles will have disappeared.

The research was led by John Stone, associate professor of Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington. it is published in this week's edition of the journal Science.

Prof Stone said it was still not known if the melting process was being speeded up by a warming of the oceans caused by humans.

However, because much of the bedrock under the ice is below sea level, the ice sheet could be particularly susceptible to any future thinning and warming up of the oceans around its edges.

The ice sheet contains enough water to raise global sea levels by about five metres, or 16-17 feet.

But Prof Stone warned: "A rapid melting event that released even a small fraction of this amount could have disastrous consequences for coastal regions."

The study states that measuring changes in the ice sheets are major challenges for modern glaciology.

Story filed: 19:07 Thursday 2nd January 2003

[blam]

We're still coming out of the last Ice Age?

[VRWCmember]

We're still coming out of the last Ice Age?

Most democrats haven't come out of it yet.

[Republic of Texas]

I watched "Ice Age" last night. I'm soooo askeeered!

[buffyt]

So the SUVs started this 10,000 years ago? LOL

[Republic of Texas]

Our planet goes through this over and over again. Whether we are here, or not.

[commish]

In a word - YES. There was a great thread a week or two ago on this very subject. We are currently still in the warming trend following the last great Ice Age, and the "Little Ice Age" that coinsided with the Dark Ages.

The interesting thing is that the continued warming of the earth will be the very catalyst that triggers the next Ice Age. It has been happening in cycles like this for Millions of Years, and a few SUV's will do nothing to contribute to it. Global Warming is in fact happening, and has been happening for thousands of years, and Man has had nothing to do with it.

[tazman3]

No, don't forget, it's all President Bush's fault.

/sarcasm

sorry, couldn't help it.

[Cicero]

Global warming was kicked off by cavemen roasting mastadons over smoky fires.

[Michael Barnes]

Anyone every seen the flick A.I.? The tail end of the movie is what earth will look like in the next ice age (when that will happen, ya got me BTW)

[Michael Barnes]

Addendum, I don't know if there will be aliens here or not though...the mind ponders...

[rovenstinez]

If it keeps getting warmer, maybe someone can 'claim' it and call it a non Islamic State, and keep all of the religion of peace people at bay.

[colorado tanker]

If we erect a Druid alter and sacrifice two lambs, a goat and 10% of our economy, global warming will stop.

[Cicero]

Sacrificial lambs and goats would only contribute to the smog problem, especially in L.A.

[dljordan]

I thought that little weasel-looking critter with the acorn was pretty funny.

[dljordan]

Plenty of aliens here already. We're trying to get them to go home.

[colorado tanker]

Sacrificial lambs and goats would only contribute to the smog problem, especially in L.A.

Well, we could sacrifice L.A. instead.

[Michael Barnes]

hehehe....

[mdittmar]

Easy explanation for this.

The aliens that built the pyramids were driving SUVS.

[Fiddlstix]

Bump