Polar Ice is melting at an Accelerated Pace

A new global sea level is expected and will lead to an increase of 20 feet or 6 meters, caused by the Greenland and Antartic ice sheets witch are melting sooner than previously thought.

By 2100 the Earth will likely be at least 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.22 degrees Celsius) warmer; with the Arctic at least as warm as it was more than 100000 years ago. This will result in a rise in the sea level of about six meters higher than the present day.

These studies are the first to link Arctic and Antarctic melting during the Last Interglaciation. The last time the Arctic was significantly warmer than present day, the Greenland Ice Sheet melted back the equivalent of two to three meters (about six to ten feet) of sea level.

Contrary to what was previously believed, the research suggests the Antarctic ice sheet also melted substantially, contributing another six to ten feet (two to three meters) of sea level rise. The new findings are published in Science magazine.

The focus of our work is polar, the implications are global. Ice sheets melted before and sea levels rose. The warmth needed isn’t that much above today conditions.

The ice is melting rapidly. New research suggests the melting is accelerating, thereby raising sea levels faster at a rate of three feet (about one meter) of sea level rise per century.

Ice sheet disintegration and the subsequent sea level rise lags behind rising temperatures, the process is irreversible in the second half of the 21st century unless something is done to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

Serious measures to reduce greenhouse gases within the next decade are necessary. If we don’t do something, we’ll see a 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) sea level rise in the future.

With sea levels rising, beaches are more susceptible to storm surge. The predicted rise would eventually inundate coastal areas worldwide.
A computer model that scientists use to predict future climate, the NCAR-based Community Climate System Model (CCSM), combined with ice sheet simulations to estimate what the Earth’s climate was like 129,000 years ago, gave these results.

The computer also cross-checked ancient climate data from natural recorders of ancient climate such as sediments, fossils and ice cores.

The scientists did a good job of estimating past climate changes. That gives the researchers information in the predictions of future climate change.
The study shows that melting water from Arctic sources raised sea levels by 10 feet (about three meters) during the Last Interglaciation. However, coral records indicate that the sea level actually rose 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) and sediments under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet indicate parts of the ice sheet disappeared.
Antarctic melting produced the additional sea-level rise. They say the rise in sea level from melting in the Arctic could destabilize parts of the Antarctic ice sheet.

In the last few years sea level has begun rising more rapidly. Unlike the Greenland Ice Sheet, the base of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is below sea level. If it starts to melt, it will go fast. Moreover, during the Last Interglaciation, most of the warming was in the polar areas and in summer. Now the Earth is warming at both poles. Scientists attribute this to other influences besides greenhouse gas pollution. Some even link it to the events that are upon our planet in 2012. The cosmic impact may have more in store for us that we tend to believe!

Tagged with: flood • Global Catastrophe • Polar Ice Melts

Filed under: Global Catastrophe • Predictions

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!

Possibly related posts