Ancient ice shelf snaps and breaks free from the Canadian Arctic

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/na/cp_n122847A.xml.html

Ancient ice shelf snaps and breaks free from the Canadian Arctic STEVE LILLEBUEN (CP) - A giant ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields has snapped free from Canada's Arctic, leaving a trail of icy boulders floating in its wake.
The mass of ice broke clear from the coast of Ellesmere Island, about 800 kilometres south of the North Pole. Warwick Vincent of Laval University, who studies Arctic conditions, travelled to the newly formed ice island and couldn't believe what he saw. "It was extraordinary," Vincent said Thursday, adding that in 10 years of working in the region he has never seen such a dramatic loss of sea ice.

"This is a piece of Canadian geography that no longer exists."

The collapse was so powerful that earthquake monitors 250 kilometres away picked up tremors from it.

Scientists say it is the largest event of its kind in 30 years and point their fingers at climate change as a major contributing factor.

[Monkeyman]

1. Oh there is no warm up

[charlie and algernon]

2. well that's one of the scariest articles i've ever read

though Al Gore did say we'd be redrawing maps soon :scared:

[jayfish]

15. It's Horrifying!

"They are packed with ancient ice that dates back over 3000 years".

That's fresh, clean, clear and relatively untainted water that just entered the food-chain. Our ice is melting away like a snow cone in the summertime.

Jay

[tuvor]

3. Similar story posted earlier today.

Ayles Ice Shelf In Arctic Broke Up 16 Months Ago, Scientists Discover - Impact Noted On Seismographs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x76465

[natrat]

4. remember that piece of shit reagan saying warming needs more research

[MGD]

6. Remember that dumb ass sci-fi flick with Kevin Costner called "Water World"

[tabasco]

69. This thread is about reality.

Maybe there's a sci-fi forum.

[all.of.me]

12. he said the same thing about solar power

even though satellites were being powered with solar!

[beam me up scottie]

5. christ

Scientists say it is the largest event of its kind in 30 years and point their fingers at climate change as a major contributing factor.

"We think this incident is consistent with global climate change," Vincent said, adding that the remaining ice shelves are 90 per cent smaller than when they were first discovered in 1906.

"We aren't able to connect all of the dots .�.�. but unusually warm temperatures definitely played a major role."

The ice shelf actually broke up 16 months ago, but no one witnessed the dramatic event.

[Tellurian]

11. The breakup could account for the island loss in the South Pacific.

At first glance reading the article, I searched for the date.
And seeing it was 16 mos ago, the effects could be the recent
island loss reported just the other day. It said their were
10,000 displaced persons evacuated from the island.

Here is the article and link dated Dec 24 06

Disappearing world: Global warming claims tropical island

For the first time, an inhabited island has disappeared beneath rising seas.

Environment Editor Geoffrey Lean reports

Published: 24 December 2006

Rising seas, caused by global warming, have for the first time washed an inhabited island off the face of the Earth. The obliteration of Lohachara island, in India's part of the Sundarbans where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal, marks the moment when one of the most apocalyptic predictions of environmentalists and climate scientists has started coming true.

As the seas continue to swell, they will swallow whole island nations, from the Maldives to the Marshall Islands, inundate vast areas of countries from Bangladesh to Egypt, and submerge parts of scores of coastal cities.
Eight years ago, as exclusively reported in The Independent on Sunday, the first uninhabited islands - in the Pacific atoll nation of Kiribati - vanished beneath the waves. The people of low-lying islands in Vanuatu, also in the Pacific, have been evacuated as a precaution, but the land still juts above the sea. The disappearance of Lohachara, once home to 10,000 people, is unprecedented.

It has been officially recorded in a six-year study of the Sunderbans by researchers at Calcutta's Jadavpur University. So remote is the island that the researchers first learned of its submergence, and that of an uninhabited neighbouring island, Suparibhanga, when they saw they had vanished from satellite pictures.

Two-thirds of nearby populated island Ghoramara has also been permanently inundated. Dr Sugata Hazra, director of the university's School of Oceanographic Studies, says "it is only a matter of some years" before it is swallowed up too. Dr Hazra says there are now a dozen "vanishing islands" in India's part of the delta. The area's 400 tigers are also in danger.


http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2099971.ece

[beam me up scottie]

22. Goddamn, you're right. It looks like the extinction of the tigers is only a blink away.

Until now the Carteret Islands off Papua New Guinea were expected to be the first populated ones to disappear, in about eight years' time, but Lohachara has beaten them to the dubious distinction.

Human cost of global warming: Rising seas will soon make 70,000 people homeless

Refugees from the vanished Lohachara island and the disappearing Ghoramara island have fled to Sagar, but this island has already lost 7,500 acres of land to the sea. In all, a dozen islands, home to 70,000 people, are in danger of being submerged by the rising seas.

[pokercat999]

42. The Bush mis-administration has made room for them

IN IRAQ!

[NickB79]

41. This ice shelf was already floating

So it breaking off or melting wouldn't change sea level; it already displaces as much water as it contains.

Now, if by breaking off it allowed a flood of ice behind it that sat above sea level to flow down into the ocean, then that would increase sea level.

[Tellurian]

45. This Ice Shelf has been separated

by melting Ice Water. We're not talking about an ice cube placed in a glass of water,
where I agree with you on that. The Ice Shelf has been separated by a running brook
concentrated in one area acting as a water laser cutting through to the very bottom
until it reached the ocean. Much like the movie, The Day After Tomorrow!

[bbmw]

56. No, because...

(A) It was not floating, it was attached to the land and only hanging over the water
thus the term ice shelf

(B) Around 1/3 of a floating ice cube / ice island etc. is above the water line so
it only displaces around 2/3 of its mass.

Besides the problem is not how much this one chunk of ice raises the water level it is how
high the water level will rise if a large part (or most/all) of the ice at both poles melt.
There have been quite a few (much larger) ice shelves break off in the antarctic (where there
are many more (and larger)ice shelves).

But I do think that the largest part of global warming is just a natural weather cycle that
green house gases are only making somewhat worse.

Think about it... the little ice age lasted for around 500 years and only ended around 1850 or so
that means it has only been 156 years only about 1/3 of the time of the little ice age so of
course the weather cycle has been warming up since then.

[MGD]

7. In the famous words of one Frank Zappa: "and here comes the water."

[hatrack]

25. "Because this water is very, very cold . . . " "Oooooh!!!"

" . . . but it's going to be so stimulating!"

[WindRavenX]

8. ...blah blah blah liberal scientists' conspiracy...blah blah blah

:eyes:

I forget which DUer said it, but it's true: no one is going to do a damn thing about global warming until the streets of NYC are flooded.

[raccoon]

26. I agree. Is it just human nature that people usually don't do anything

about a problem until it hits the wall?

[maxsolomon]

30. President Gore will

draft Gore!

[Tesha]

31. I'm a little more optimistic.

> I forget which DUer said it, but it's true: no one is going
> to do a damn thing about global warming until the streets of
> NYC are flooded.

I'm a little more optimistic; I think we'll do something about
it when you need a boat to get to the Jefferson Memorial in
the former Washington Tidal Basin.



It'll still be too little too late, of course, but people
will wake up before much of Manhattan goes under.

Tesha

[msmcghee]

9. Wouldn't any point 800 kilometers from . .

. . the North Pole have to be south of the North Pole? :eyes:

[Tellurian]

14. The excess water is gathering around the equator.

forming a slight bulge to the earth's midsection, altering the normal spherical shape of the planet.
Scientists speculate if this problem persists at an accelerated rate it could affect the earth's rotation
on it's axis...They didn't elaborate on the consequences.

scary indeed. theres no where to run..

[pokercat999]

43. Hmmmm Global warming.......I wonder if that's what

happened to my "midsection", I have a similar bulge around my equator.

I don't mean to make light of a serious subject but I just couldn't resist, sorry.

[Tellurian]

46. ah,ha!

yes, when I reread my post, I sort of figured someone would Identify
with their Global midsection.. Bon Appétit!

[gorbal]

50. Are you sure we didn't have one already?

I live in Maine, it's almost New Years, and no snow. They are reporting dandelions sprouting in some areas of southern maine and ants are crawling everywhere.

[loser_user]

66. Wantt Snow? Come down Southwest....

30 inches in my backyard this morning here in Santa Fe...

[reprobate]

63. I believe that a 'bulge' at the equator would result in a slowing of earth's rotation.

Much like a skater who twirls and extends his arms will slow his rotation. IOW, days will grow longer.

[sutz12]

16. I believe every point on Earth is "south of the North Pole."

:)

[Tesha]

32. Well, except for the (theoretical) pole point itself. (NT)

[Systematic Chaos]

36. Obviously you aren't advanced enough to think 4-dimensionally.

Primitive humans....

:evilgrin:

[Sirveri]

54. but the fourth dimension is time.

The real trick is thinking ten dimensionally.

[bbmw]

57. Any point any distance from the north pole is south of the N. pole

If you are at the north pole the only way to go is south!

[truthisfreedom]

10. If the scientists would only have told us in time!

Why did they keep it to themselves? The bush administration has been practically begging for updated information on this global warming thing!

sigh. double sigh.

[Tesha]

33. I'm always sardonically amused whenever anyone...

> If the scientists would only have told us in time!

I'm always sardonically amused whenever anyone deliberately
shuts their eyes to reality in favor of a fairy tale that
they wish to believe. The problem, of course, is that facts
are facts and the facts are not the least bit altered by what
one wishes were true, no matter how hard one wishes it.

Bush and Global Warming/Global Climate Change is an obvious
example, but you see it here on DU all the time as well.
People will believe the weirdest stuff, and no amount of
facts will convince them otherwise. Or, converesly, they'll
deny that certain facts and principles are true, even though
the facts are well in evidence and the principles widely
demonstrated.

I realize your statement was sarcastic, but it ought to
be interesting to see how all the non-believers explain
things when the water is lapping at their government or
their houses.

Tesha

[Up2Late]

13. This is such a weird time for this to happen (in winter)...

...this type of thing only (usually) happens in the summer. You can't even get a good Satellite pictures of it for at least a few weeks (no Sunlight there now). :wtf:

If you want to see what it did look like back in September 2003, here's a link: <http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?search=Ellesmere+Island>

[bbmw]

58. um... it happened Aug. 13, 2005 Summer, I believe

[Up2Late]

64. Yeah, I just found that out from BBC News...

...here's the link: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6218333.stm>

Which brings me to this question, Why are they (the Canadian and so-called MSM) NOW reporting this and freaking out like it just happened?

Conspiracy Theory: RW Media cover-up or are they only reporting it now because...

"The risk is that next summer, as that sea ice melts, this large ice island can then move itself around off the coast and one potential path for it is to make its way westward toward the Beaufort Sea where there is lots of oil and gas exploration, oil rigs and shipping."

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6218333.stm>

[SpiralHawk]

17. Commander AWOL: "I don't believe this."

"This is just liberal propaganda. I have it from Rush Oxycontin Limbaugh that Faith-Based Republicon "Scientists" know for a "fact" that global warming is just a liberal plot. So all you Fact-Based Scientists can just shut up and sit down."

- Commander AWOL Bush

[saigon68]

21. Soon Dr Frist will do a "TV Diagnosis"

LOL

[democrank]

18. Wonder when

we`re going to start taking this seriously? Very little reporting done in mainstream media, but isn`t our environment as important a topic as which Hollywood star is divorcing?

[pokercat999]

44. Did you just get to America from somewhere like

outer space? Any American knows there is almost nothing as important as Hollywood divorces unless it's star crotch shots.:sarcasm:

[YankeyMCC]

19. k n r

[leftchick]

20. everyday another horror

and we contnue to open more coal fired plants around the world, hop in our SUVs and thumb our noses at climate change while polar bears drown and my fucking cherry trees are blooming in DECEMBER!

:cry:

[Tesha]

34. Here in northern New England, we have dandelions blooming in the lawns! (NT)

[kestrel91316]

37. Milwauke, WI, Christmas 2006: Bright green lawns looking like

they need mowing. Rain. Not a trace of snow. So warm, I don't need my parka and hat.

Nothing wrong with THIS picture.

[tanyev]

23. Just more of that "mass delusion", Sen. Inhofe?

[truthisfreedom]

29. Senator "In-Huffer" has been re-breathing his own exhale for too long.

happening.

Getting these dinosaurs to see what's going on will take an ocean rise of 40 or so feet.

[lostnfound]

24. OUR candidate gave a damn about the planet..which is why

I have this picture as the sig line on all of my emails now. To remind me, and others, that this is a person of integrity, not a person to be laughed at.

It disgusts me that a dot like W got held up as 'likeable' while the media AND people I even knew laughed at Gore. For what?

[LSK]

27. it is starting to happen

:scared:

[LynzM]

28. Very scary.

Just one more in an ongoing string of bad environmental things going on, on a global scale, lately... :scared:

Al Gore, if you run, I'll work my ass off for you.

[OhioChick]

35. This saddens me......

What are we leaving for future generations to come? :(

[underpants]

38. Ice Mass Snaps Free From Canada's Arctic (41 sq. miles)

Ice Shelf the Size of 11,000 Football Fields Snaps Free From Canada's Arctic, Scientists Say

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2758025

TORONTO Dec 29, 2006 (AP)— A giant ice shelf has snapped free from an island south of the North Pole, scientists said Thursday, citing climate change as a "major" reason for the event.

The Ayles Ice Shelf all 41 square miles of it broke clear 16 months ago from the coast of Ellesmere Island, about 500 miles south of the North Pole in the Canadian Arctic.

Scientists discovered the event by using satellite imagery. Within one hour of breaking free, the shelf had formed as a new ice island, leaving a trail of icy boulders floating in its wake.

Within days of breaking free, the Ayles Ice Shelf drifted about 30 miles offshore before freezing into the sea ice. A spring thaw may bring another concern: that warm temperatures will release the new ice island from its Arctic grip, making it an enormous hazard for ships.

"Over the next few years this ice island could drift into populated shipping routes," Weir said.

[no_hypocrisy]

39. Now, THAT'S an iceberg . . . . n/t

[NickB79]

40. Someone tow it to Australia to irrigate their drought-ridden farms

We have excess fresh water in the north, while Australian farmers blow their brains out in dispair down south. This is going to be an interesting century to grow up in.

[Lisa]

47. and no, George -- don't bother asking "Can I have it?"

Actually I suspect that if Bush inquired, our PM would give it to him, in an attempt to suck up!

[hatrack]

48. Harper pretty much is Bush with a side of maple syrup, isn't he?

My condolences - when's the next election? :evilgrin:

[Lisa]

49. ... and maybe a couple of books on his desk

Actually I think Harper isn't nearly as sweet as the maple syrup! And compared to Bush he's stiffer and more introverted (not a political liability up here in Canada, since most of my fellow citizens are a bit like that, at least when we're not under the influence of beer/donuts/hockey). Supposedly "Steve" reads more -- but NDP leader Jack Layton said that the book he'd given him as an office-warming present was still in the exact same position, a month later! (Then again, it was a book about climate change, and Harper is as keen on being a phony Albertan as Bush is at doing the phony Texan act.)

In theory the election is whenever the opposition wants it to be, but in practice nobody wants to trigger the wrath of the voters, less than a year after the last one! My guess is that they might hold off until next fall, unless Harper does something really stupid like sending the troops into Iran, should his pal Georgie be so inclined.

[hatrack]

53. Or perhaps "John Howard of the RCMP"

I don't know what's worse - Bush or a marginally more intelligent Bush clone.

[Mendocino]

51. Plans have been made to relocate one small Alaska village, the victim of global warming.

It will cost an estimated $200 million. Now what will it cost to relocate NYC, Boston, London and the rest of the coastal world? Katrina/New Orleans was just a sample, $250 million in federal aid for levys could have avoided that disaster. Is any price, we pay now to avoid sea level increase going to be too much, to prevent global catastrophe?

[mcscajun]

52. In a sane world, this would be the banner headline eclipsing all others.

In a sane world. Pity we don't live in one.

:(

Of course, in a sane world, we'd have started addressing this issue 37 years ago; perhaps in that case we'd have never seen this headline. :(

[bbmw]

59. In a sane world. We wouldn't be saying "In a sane world".

[mcscajun]

61. So very true, and Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Downtown Hound]

55. So?

What's really important is that Saddam is about to be executed, because it makes me feel good to be an American.

:sarcasm:

[me9399]

60. what's really important is...

:sarcasm: is what Paris Hilton ,Britney Spears , and Lindsay "Fire Crotch" Lohan are wearing or dating... :sarcasm: :wtf:

[crossroads]

62. You think they will believe and take Gore serious now? nt

[Up2Late]

65. Update: Huge Arctic ice break discovered (BBC News)

Friday, 29 December 2006, 22:52 GMT

Huge Arctic ice break discovered

Scientists have discovered that an enormous ice shelf broke off an island in the Canadian Arctic last year, in what could be sign of global warming.

It is said to be the largest break in 25 years, casting an ice floe with an area of 66 sq km (25 square miles). It occurred in August 2005 but was only recently detected on satellite images.

The chunk of ice bigger than Manhattan could wreak havoc if it moves into oil drilling regions and shipping lanes next summer, scientists warned....

"The risk is that next summer, as that sea ice melts, this large ice island can then move itself around off the coast and one potential path for it is to make its way westward toward the Beaufort Sea where there is lots of oil and gas exploration, oil rigs and shipping...."

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6218333.stm>

Funny how this was "...only recently detected on satellite..." when it's determined that it "...could wreak havoc if it moves into oil drilling regions..." huh?

Same thing happened in the South with the Ross Ice Shelf a few years ago. It took about 5 years for the thing to finally float into open, warmer waters and break up. Funny how when it's only "...Tens of thousands of penguins are starving to death in Antarctica..." because of the same type of thing, few seem to care. <http://www.solcomhouse.com/massive.htm>

:argh:

[SKKY]

67. Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket! This is frightening...

...we're seeing this catastrophe happen right before our eyes, but nothing is being done.

[Up2Late]

68. I was just searching though the Satellite pictures from NASA's MODIS site...

...and it looks like the Ice Shelfs along the Greenland Northern coast are in VERY bad shape too. I just went though most of the pictures from August 2006 and things look really bad up there.

Here's links to the site if you want to check it out:

<http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/2006364/>

<http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/>