Posted on 12/22/2002 7:36:29 AM PST by freeforall
Arctic ice cap to vanish in 80 years, study says Kyoto climate treaty came 'too late' to save polar ice from melting
Jonathan Leake The Times, London
Sunday, December 22, 2002
The ice cap covering the North Pole will vanish in less than 80 years as climate change melts it away, say British meteorological researchers.
The area covered by ice has shrunk by 20 per cent since the 1950s and its average winter thickness has reduced by 40 per cent since 1970. From detailed measurements of the rate of melting, the Met Office's Hadley Centre for monitoring climate change predicts the ice-cap will disappear around September 2079.
The Met Office research, to be published next year, assumes emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will continue to rise at their current rate. Many believe this will happen since the U.S. rejected the Kyoto climate treaty that would have cut emissions. Canada ratified the treaty Monday.
Geoff Jenkins, head of climate change prediction, said only a few icebergs would be left. "Our figures suggest that virtually all the ice will be gone," he said.
Even if the world reduced emissions by the maximum possible, it would only give a few years reprieve, says the Met Office.
"The greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere mean we will keep getting warmer for decades, whatever we do," said Mr. Jenkins. "Cutting emissions is important, but the effects will come too late to save the polar ice cap."
The loss of the ice cap will open up the Northwest Passage and enable ships to save thousands of kilometres on journeys between Europe and the Far East.
It could also change weather patterns. The larger expanse of open sea would increase evaporation and rainfall, possibly causing wetter summers in Europe. It might also allow more plankton to grow, thus boosting fish stocks.
For other wildlife, however, the change could be disastrous. Polar bears and seals would be hit hard because they rely on floating ice to hunt and breed.
"The north polar wildlife is unique, but it is going to have to adapt fast if it is to survive," said Peter Wadhams, professor of ocean physics at Cambridge University.
The thinning of the ice has already hampered some expeditions to the pole. David Mill, a Briton, had to be rescued last May after finding his way blocked by thin ice.
The melting of the North Pole will not raise sea levels as all the ice is floating. There are, however, fears the temperature increases could melt Antarctica, the southern ice cap. This sits above sea level on a buried continent so melting would sharply raise sea levels.
© Copyright 2002 The Ottawa Citizen
Even though I'm not quite qualified for that front-row seat just yet, I've still got a great perch from which I get to see those dweebs.
In that case, let's hold a perpetual barbecue.
Wonder if they know if it will be sunny in New England between the 15th and the 22nd. I'd really like to firm up some plans.
On a clear day, Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, PA, releases a cloud of water vapor that can be seen from the air as soon as the plane takes off from New York City.
This water is locally drawn and used to cool the hot pipes within the towers; the steam you see is the same water being returned to the air. Water vapor produced by burning hydrocarbons is actually created from the stored hydrogen of those hydrocarbons and the respirated oxygen of plantlife far and near - still a net zero for total water in the atmosphere.
LMFAO!! Are you serious? Steam from cooling towers? And just how much water vapor from cooling towers is introduced into the earth's atmosphere as as percentage of the total water vapor in the atmosphere as compared to the amount introduced from the evaporation of ocean water? Is it 0.00000000000000000001%? You must have a number since you brought it up.
It is most impolite to drag facts into a political argument with left-wing science guys. Got it? Global Warming is real and it is dangerous. Al Gore says so. It is therefore true and we must adjust all our policies to accomodate this new knowledge.
Take your facts and get out of this town.
That is one of the most common baits. Many ice fishermen carry it.
Cool! Imagine the great cruises people will be able to take....
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