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.

[TomB]

I don't share with anybody.

But you still didn't answer my question.

[TomB]

Global warming is junk science.....

I agree.

Wasn't I clear about that?

[untenured]

If so, regardless of its cause, we should be giving some thought to how to deal with it.

That will depend whether, on balance, it is a good thing or a bad thing.

[Mojo-jo-jo]

Oh boy...what do we call this now?

Universal global warming...

Interplanetary global warming?

I'm so confused...I didn't think their was aerosol hair spray cans on Mars, let alone hair on Martians.

[Romulus]

We'll never know till we give it some thought, will we?

[Revolting cat!]

This is why I like FR. (...) I go to the thread, and sure enough, virtually every poster has beat me to it!

Heck, that's why I hate FR - every poster beats me to it!

[untenured]

No question. The sooner hard thinking starts about any potentially serious problem the better.

But the answer will not be easy. The findings suggest (but only suggest) that global warming may be externally caused, which in turn raises the question of whether mankind is in a position to do much about it.

To the extent we are, do we wish to fight it? Not necessarily. It may hurt some people (coastal residents of Bangladesh who lose their homes, travelers to Switzerland who can no longer admire the vanishing beauty) even as it helps others (starving people who find food more plentiful if vast swaths of Canada and Russia are made hospitable to agriculture).

[Romulus]

For the record, I'm a coastal resident, and the veteran of more hurricanes and tropical storms than I can count. Also, I have enjoyed long-distance hiking in the Alps, and hope to return soon. So I happen to care a lot about climate change, if any -- no matter what the cause. :)

[untenured]

I have enjoyed long-distance hiking in the Alps,...

I remember your saying that on some other global-warming thread, which is why I used that example. :)

The coastal example was a fortuitous coincidence, though.

[steelyourfaith]

bttt