Community | November 24, 2009 | 3 comments

Antarctic ice melting 10% faster than thought

source: http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/antarctic-ice-melting-10-faster-than-thought-3178553

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jefftego
As icebergs head for New Zealand, scientists have discovered Antarctica is in worse shape than first thought.

It has been known for years that the Antarctic's western ice sheet is being swallowed into the sea.

Now new research shows the Antarctic's eastern ice sheet, long thought to be unaffected by climate change, is melting 10% faster than it can produce ice.

Scientists from the University of Texas measured the total ice mass of Antarctica using satellites and found east Antarctica has been shedding 57 billion tonnes a year since 2006.

"It's a bit of a blow for the sceptics I would think, it's long been thought that the east Antarctic ice sheet was gaining mass rather than losing it," says John McCrystal.

East Antarctica is the world's largest ice shelf and if the melt continues rising sea levels are closer than originally forecast.
  1. groups:
    Community,   Green,   Oceans,   Climate Change
  2. tags:
    Climate Change,  Global Warming,  Antarctica
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3 comments // Antarctic ice melting 10% faster than thought

  • artemis6
  • thedirtman
    • 0
      thedirtman  

    • "It's a bit of a blow for the sceptics I would think, it's long been thought that the east Antarctic ice sheet was gaining mass rather than losing it," says John McCrystal.

      This phenomena can be confusing. At first it could seem simple enough. More cold should produce more ice. More heat should produce less ice. It isn't so simple.

      A few people should remember from University Physics and Chemistry 101 that colder air holds less water. Less water means less ice. When it was colder it never snowed on Antarctica because the air was too cold to hold moisture. Today, on account of AGW, it snows on the South Pole. I hope I don't see the day when it rains on the South Pole too.

    • 2 years ago
  • My_America
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