Geology Pictures of the Week, July 6-12, 2003: Increased Melting of Greenland Ice Sheet

NASA Earth Observatory ^ | July 2003 | NASA

[cogitator]

The Melting Ice of Greenland

What might at first be mistaken for a series of images showing the approach of summer on the edge of the Greenland ice sheet in fact shows an increase in melting over the past several years. The three images above show the melting in June of 2001, 2002, and 2003. Since 2001, the amount of melting along the edges of Greenland’s ice cap has increased significantly.

The grey ice sandwiched between the bare ground on the left (towards the coast) and the solid white on the right (towards the island’s interior) in these true-color images indicates that the surface of the ice sheet is saturated with liquid water. This translucent area is dotted with meltwater ponds that are scattered like hundreds of blue jewels across the ice sheet’s surface. Barely visible in June 2001, the melting area increased significantly in 2002, and again in 2003, by which time it stretched farther south than in either previous year. The large images (linked above) show a large portion of Greenland’s west coast, and a reduction of snow cover from 2001 to 2003.

Scientists recently documented that the seasonal thaw along the margins of the Greenland ice sheet has been starting much earlier in the year and impacting a larger area than in the past quarter of a century. Sea ice in the region has been declining at the same time. (Read Vanishing Ice for more details.)

These images are based on observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), one of five instruments aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. The sensor sees the entire surface of the Earth almost every day in 36 discreet wavelengths ranging from visible light to thermal infrared energy.

[cogitator]

Go to the article link at top to have access to the larger versions of these images.

[cogitator]

** ping **

[Support Free Republic]

We Replaced Patrick Leahy's Brains With Folger's Crystals. Let's See If Anyone Notices!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[jae471]

MODIS/Terra strikes again.

(I work with MODIS on both the Terra and Aqua satellites.)

[cogitator]

NASA's Earth Observatory has been one of my main sources for these "Geology Pictures of the Week". Keep up the good work!

[GOP_1900AD]

What I find very interesting is that in the first picture, suposedly your "baseline," from the year before, I can clearly see evidence of a recent snowfall. Note the many snow capped hills in the left portion of the picture. On the other hand, the photos for the following year clearly were taken at a time when several days or even weeks had passed without any appreciable snow fall. Are you distorting data to meet your Green Whackjob agenda?

[aShepard]

I wish all those whales would stop peeing in the ocean, they're melting the ice!

[cogitator]

What I find very interesting is that in the first picture, suposedly your "baseline," from the year before, I can clearly see evidence of a recent snowfall. Note the many snow capped hills in the left portion of the picture. On the other hand, the photos for the following year clearly were taken at a time when several days or even weeks had passed without any appreciable snow fall. Are you distorting data to meet your Green Whackjob agenda?

Mark, take a paranoia pill! I didn't touch the pictures, I just took them off a NASA Web site. But I doubt that a bit of snow here or there affects the way that the edge of the ice sheet is melting. If you think that these pictures have been altered for a "Green Whackjob" agenda, then you will have to express your concerns to NASA, not me.

[GOP_1900AD]

What you incorrectly call melting ice is the snow on top of the ice melting. No where did I say you doctored the pictures, the point is your interpretation is flawed.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Thanks for posting this!

[G.Mason]

I was wondering why Lake Tsala Apopka and the Withlacoochee river were so high.

Head for the hills!

[nightdriver]

If icecaps didn't melt back periodically, all the Earth's water would end up being locked up as ice in the polar regions. Just ol' Ma Earth keeping her equilibrium.

[razorback-bert]

I am going to put signs seashore view for sale on my West Texas land.

[cogitator]

What you incorrectly call melting ice is the snow on top of the ice melting. No where did I say you doctored the pictures, the point is your interpretation is flawed.

You said, "are you distorting the data...", which I took it to mean am I doing something to the data or images.

A couple of points:

One, it's not MY interpretation, it's NASA's interpretation.

Two, they emphasize the appearance of the ice, as gray with meltwater lakes (bright little blue spots) as showing where the melt zone is. Snow cover looks different, and it's not covering the meltwater lakes.

Three, I suspect that the images were taken on a lucky clear day at approximately the same time each year.

Four, NASA has also performed laser measurements from a plane that shows that the actual ice edge in Greenland is receding, so this result would support that result.

Five, instead of arguing with me, investigate this on your own. I suggest starting by going to the linked page and reading the article "Vanishing Ice", as is suggested in the text. It's interesting. Below are some other short articles to read:

Greenland Ice Changes

Mapping the Greenland Ice Sheets

Six, NASA launched a satellite late last year called ICESAT that will provide measurements that will be able to quantify whether or not the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are growing or shrinking.

So, with regard to these icy images: "chill out", Mark.

[Dog Gone]

Lucky for you, you already live on a beach.

[CedarDave]

It may be lakefront or river view in a few days...

[CedarDave]

Definely sandy, how much water is another matter!!

[Dog Gone]

Having lived in Midland for ten years, I tend to view it, as well as the Sahara Desert, as inland beaches.

It makes it easier to market real estate.

[razorback-bert]

You won't hear me complain about any rain.

[razorback-bert]

Hmmm, I need to look at Sand Hills property.

Mesquite grows next to Pecos River, so I guess the %*&)_+@$@ stuffs will survive.