West Antarctic Ice Sheet Disintegration May Be Underway - UK Report

[hatrack]

The risk of climate change may be far more serious than previously thought, according to a new British report based on government-sponsored research into global warming. The report raises fears that an Antarctic ice sheet is melting, which could lead to sea levels rising by five metres.

It also warns of large-scale irreversible disruption if temperatures rise above three degrees Celsius, well within the range of climate change projections for the century. The report, released in a book, ‘Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change’, collates evidence presented by scientists at a conference hosted by the UK Meteorological Office at Exeter last February.

EDIT

The book publishes an announcement from the head of the British Antarctic Survey, Professor Chris Rapley, that the huge West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be starting to disintegrate. Scientists believe the event would raise sea levels around the world by five metres.

In the book, Professor Rapley says a previous report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) dismissing worries about the ice sheet's stability had to be revised. He said "The last IPCC report characterised Antarctica as a slumbering giant in terms of climate change. I would say it is now an awakened giant. There is real concern."

EDIT/END

http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=127086®ion=3

Including this to compensate for screwed-up link.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18002634%255E30417,00.html

Game, set, match.

[Ezlivin]

1. Still not enough of a warning and enough lead time for Bush

If he was still in power 50 years from now when the waves are lapping at the foot of the Washington Monument, he would still say he didn't have enough time or a good enough warning.

With the way Bush heeds warnings, it's a surprise he's not a chain smoker of Lucky Strikes.

[htuttle]

2. It's probably a good time to sell off that timeshare in Miami

It's going to be awfully hard to sell 10 years from now or so.

[Odin2005]

3. Oh Shit!

I thought the chance of that happening was fairly low? :scared:

[phantom power]

4. Huh. I thought the smart money was supposed to be on Greenland first.

[htuttle]

6. It still might

From what I've read recently, there's still a lot of melting going on in Greenland. I get the impression that the thaw in Greenland is a bit farther on than in Antarctica. It's just that it apparently looks like Antarctica is also going to melt relatively soon.

Heck, both might melt within a few years of each other. That would only raise ocean levels...something like 30 feet or so.

[phantom power]

10. Do we get to say that the sky is falling?

It's been out of fashion for so long.

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Fuck. nt

[hatrack]

9. Yeah, my thoughts exactly

May as well have a :beer: - not much else to do.

[Dead_Parrot]

11. Well, look on the bright side:

At least we dont need to worry where the CO2 tipping point is anymore:
It was just under 380ppm

I'll join you for a :beer: :toast:

[hatrack]

12. Amazing what 110 PPM can do, isn't it?

This'll REALLY put me in the correct frame of my for the Chimpathon tonight. Hope I keep from throwing things at the screen of a TV I don't own.

[NNadir]

7. This represents a huge opportunity, if we act quickly.

We should build a huge series of dams along all the coasts in the world and fit them with generators. This way we can pick up a huge amount of energy from hydroelectric power as the water flows in and covers, say, Florida.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. Priceless... nt

[XemaSab]

13. Yay!!!!

The prospect of Antarctica breaking in half and sliding into the ocean is #2 on my list of favorite disaster scenarios!

Bring it on!!!! :bounce:




oh, wait, this means we're f***ed, right? Crap.