Study Suggests Mars Ice Caps Eroding

Yahoo News / Associated Press ^ | 12/6/2001 | PAUL RECER, AP Science Writer

[TommyDale]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Vast fields of carbon dioxide ice are eroding from the poles of Mars, suggesting that the climate of the Red Planet is warming and the atmosphere is becoming slightly more dense.

Experts say that over time such changes could allow water to return to the Martian surface and turn the frigid planet into a ``shirt-sleeve environment.''

Michael A. Caplinger, a scientist with Malin Space Science Systems, said that if the rate of carbon dioxide erosion from the Mars poles continues for thousands of years, ``then it could profoundly amend the climate of Mars.''

``You would go from having to wear a spacesuit to just wearing a coat and an oxygen atmosphere,'' said Caplinger.

[Elle Bee]

Mars in the Balance

ROTFLOL

.

[cake_crumb]

"I wonder if scientists can correlate that with climate on THIS planet.....

..............nahhhhhhhh"

Man, that is the truth. When they do that, the story is buried and ignored anyway.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"I wonder if scientists can correlate that with climate on THIS planet..... "

No waaaayyy. This planet has people. And people drive SUVs. And SUVs contribute ALL the CO and CO₂ there is.
Couldn't possibly be related to sunspots. Sunspots are for planets without people. </sarcasm>

[TAP ONLINE]

Its my Fault

When the Martians came and took me I was wearing my tin foil Martian signal amplifier.

I must have left it at one of the poles

As We all know it hones in on Signals from FreeRepublic

It must be going wild lately.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Lively discussion here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/585690/posts

[TomB]

Lively discussion here:

Did you ever have a feeling of deja vu?

[aomagrat]

Dammit Ensign Kodos, I told you we needed catalytic converters!

[dighton]

Destroy all slobbering invaders!

[phalynx]

Well, it only makes sense. After all, Mars was the closest to Earth it has been in many, many years. I am sure that we conducted Global Warming tests to warm Mars so that they can cover up the Earth warming......

Or maybe it is just a cycle.... woooh.

[Romulus]

My immediate reaction to the headline was some sarcastic take-off on modern man's responsibilty for "Martian warming." I go to the thread, and sure enough, virtually every poster has beat me to it!

Whaddya know. Well, here's a thought you haven't yet seen on this thread: If global warming is taking place naturally on Mars, maybe -- just maybe -- it's happening here too. If so, regardless of its cause, we should be giving some thought to how to deal with it. And all the comedians who've rubbished the very possibility that GW might be taking place might want to re-work their jokes.

[bloodmeridian]

Anyone care to offer an explanation?

We're far too smart for the Sen. B$$ch crowd.

[Artem55]

My God where are Ralph Nader and Greenpeace when you need them? I think we should load all the enviro-wacko's on the next rocket to Mars and let them save that planet!

[bloodmeridian]

My God where are Ralph Nader and Greenpeace when you need them?

Didn't you know Nader left Mars to clean up Earth?

[Sabertooth]

Must be all that Tritonian traffic; Al Gore was fixin' to outlaw the internal-combustion engine on Triton.

Oh, I hope not, the Ford Triton engine family is anengineering marvel.

My fully loaded, triple-black 2000 GT ragtop with the 4.6 L SOHC is one beautiful ride.

Cut-away of the 6.8 liter Triton V-10.

[TomB]

Well, here's a thought you haven't yet seen on this thread: If global warming is taking place naturally on Mars, maybe -- just maybe -- it's happening here too.

You did mean this sarcastically, didn't you?

[epluribus_2]

Global warming is junk science because it requires that only human-generated pollution to be the cause of climate change on Earth - to political ends. Real scientists acknowledge that cycles within the Sun and the planets wobbly rotations (not to mention vulcanism) affect our climate vastly more than Republicans. This report shows Mars is warming too. Only one SUV there as far as I know. This issue is all about controlling our personal transportation choices, freedom from government dependancy (mass transportation - sheep), quality of life (air conditioning/not having to live in crowded cities - so called "sprawl") and at worst a global effort to shackle western (US) economic power to allow for a "fairer" distribution of wealth and resources to (not-free) developing nations. 1 posted on 12/7/01 9:08 AM Pacific by epluribus_2

[Artem55]

I thought I recognized Ralph--didn't he play Marvin the Martian for Warner Brothers? :) Now where's my Illudium Pu-238 Explosive Space Modulator??

[Romulus]

We both share the same Sun, don't we?

[malakhi]

Clearly this is a case of second-hand global warming...

[bloodmeridian]

I thought I recognized Ralph--didn't he play Marvin the Martian for Warner Brothers?

I believe so. It must be the roving eye and the learing look he has that gives him away.