Yet another "It's worse than we thought" article on global warming

[Binkie The Clown]

[font size=4]What scientists just discovered in Greenland could be making sea-level rise even worse[/font]

Rising global temperatures may be affecting the Greenland ice sheet — and its contribution to sea-level rise — in more serious ways that scientists imagined, a new study finds. Recent changes to the island’s snow and ice cover appear to have affected its ability to store excess water, meaning more melting ice may be running off into the ocean than previously thought.

That’s worrying news for the precarious Greenland ice sheet, which scientists say has already lost more than 9 trillions tons of ice in the past century — and whose melting rate only continues to increase as temperatures keep warming up. NASA estimates that the Greenland ice sheet is losing about 287 billion tons of ice every year, partly due to surface melting and partly due to the calving of large chunks of ice. Because of the ice sheet’s potential to significantly raise sea levels as it runs into the ocean, scientists have been keeping a close eye on it — and anything that might affect how fast it’s melting.

The new study, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, focuses on a part of the ice sheet known as “firn” — a porous layer of built-up snow that slowly freezes into ice over time. It’s considered an important part of the ice sheet because of its ability to trap and store excess water before it’s able to run off the surface of the glacier, an essential service that helps mitigate the sea-level rise that would otherwise be caused by the runoff water.

More at the link

[daleanime]

1. kick, kick, kick....

[PATRICK]

2. Perception is still a major problem

Not to be too cynical but looking at all the elements- still powering forward business as usual- the worst case scenarios are becoming the beginning point of likely occurrences. Perceptions are still hampered by corporatist politics, money and media influenced science, world economics. Safe to say, if the future generations were to come back knowing all those responsible, gullible, money influenced, they would crucify them in extreme ways all around the burning dome of the Capitol. Of course that is not what happens anymore than a spiritual or common sense conversion of our addled greed corrupted generation. they will be too busy slaughtering each other or dying in place, cursing God and asking why.

Googling worst case scenarios shows concentration on a few effects, those not too troubling to Americans outside the future Florida archipelago and the Texas Sahara. They are not worst at all in fact, but future guarantees.
I figured on the bent nature of science, economics and politics that the Paris backslapping was an indication we have moved in the talking sphere of confronting the irreversible effects with an ominous nudge of trying to survive the next stage of the juggernaut.

So taking the eternal surprise of the unspotted minds as a benchmark I guess the next verboten "wild" surprise will be our last- extinction. The last thing we have to argue about and not do enough about as the only intelligent race on the planet fails utterly to do its job.

On a good note, the pathological elements of the race will not live to see their own demise at the hands of genetic engineering and an Eden Renaissance.

Perhaps in cool bunkers under mountains the computers will tick off interest earned on hoarded trillions of meaningless currency.

OK, it sounds cynical, but the trajectory of human perception and inaction is nearly as certain as global catastrophe. As a simple pre-scientific guide to consider the subject you won't go broke betting on the "worst" coming on faster than "expected".

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Climate change altering Greenland ice sheet and accelerating sea level rise, says York U prof

http://news.yorku.ca/2016/01/04/climate-change-altering-greenland-ice-sheet-and-accelerating-sea-level-rise-says-york-u-prof/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Climate change altering Greenland ice sheet and accelerating sea level rise, says York U prof[/font]

January 4, 2016

[font size=4]TORONTO, January 4, 2016 – The Greenland ice sheet has traditionally been pictured as a bit of a sponge for glacier meltwater, but new research has found it is rapidly losing the ability to buffer its contribution to rising sea levels, says a York University researcher.[/font]

[font size=3]York U Professor William Colgan, a co-author on the study published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, helped analyse data from three expeditions to the Greenland ice sheet in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The research was done in conjunction with lead researcher Horst Machguth of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Mike MacFerrin of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Dirk van As of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark.

…

As Machguth said, “Basically our research shows that the firn reacts fast to a changing climate. Its ability to limit mass loss of the ice sheet by retaining meltwater could be smaller than previously assumed.”

Because the models scientists use to project Greenland’s sea level rise contribution do not presently take firn cap-off into consideration, it means that Greenland’s projected sea level rise due to meltwater runoff is likely higher than previously predicted. Getting this newly observed physical process into these models is an important next step for the team.

…[/font][/font]

[Binkie The Clown]

4. As I read this post, on the TV I hear CBS evening news, western edition, Scott Pelley saying:

"More extreme weather in the news..."

First nobody noticed.
Now people are beginning to notice. Too late, I'm afraid.
But soon it will something that nobody can ignore anymore.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Here’s what I’m observing…

Some “conservatives” are now acknowledging that the climate is changing, but not that it is our fault.

Recently a “conservative” acquaintance forwarded this along. It uses that strategy “Of course the climate is changing! It’s always changing. No one denies that! However, CO₂ has nothing to do with it!”

FWIW:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/history/Patrick-Moore-background-information/

[cprise]

6. That's why 'AGW' is a key term when addressing global warming

Deniers have been doing this "not anthropogenic" tactic for a few years at least. Terminology is important.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Yeah, I’ve been watching the shift over the years

It’s the old “four dog defense.”

1. My dog doesn’t bite
2. My dog bites, but it didn’t bite you
3. My dog bit you, but it didn’t hurt you
4. My dog bit you, and hurt you, but it wasn’t my fault

We’re coming into dog three. “Yes, CO₂ causes the planet to warm, but that’s a good thing! Scientists have been saying for a century now that without CO₂ and other ‘greenhouse gases’ the planet would be frozen solid.”

Dog four will be, “Yes, CO₂ caused the planet to warm, but we didn’t make anyone burn fossil fuels. We were simply satisfying a demand!”