A new assessment of climate change in the Arctic shows the ice in the region is melting faster than previously thought and sharply raises projections of global sea level rise this century.
The report by the international Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, or AMAP, compiles the latest science on how climate change has impacted the Arctic in the past six years.
A summary of the key findings obtained by the AP on Tuesday shows Arctic temperatures during that period were the highest since measurements began in 1880.
It said melting Arctic glaciers and ice caps are projected to help raise global sea levels by 35 to 63 inches (90-160 centimeters) by 2100. That's up from a 2007 projection of 7 to 23 inches (19-59 centimeters) by the U.N.'s scientific panel on climate change.
Comments
The Bigger Short Term Issue
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:55 — kpstephensThe biggest problem with warming temperatures is glacial snow melt. More than 1 billion people world-wide rely on spring runoff from glaciers for their drinking water. No glaciers, no water = political unrest.
ice
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:44 — warobinsSea level rises when ice on land - "Arctic glaciers and ice caps" - melts. Melting sea ice does not raise sea level.
The study specifically
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:54 — RobertMurphyThe study specifically mentioned melting Arctic glaciers, ice caps and the Greenland ice sheet.
Arctic Melting??
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 10:51 — Shadow722This article is not science, but religion. Most of the Arctic ice (inside the arctic Circle) is already floating. When you melt floating ice there is no rise in levels. Try it yourself in a glass of ice water......
Not quite. Yes, the ice is
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:43 — ThinkingNot quite. Yes, the ice is floating, but the question to ask is how much of the total volume of ice is above the waterline? If you were to melt the entire Arctic ice cap at once, the sea level worldwide would rise by an amount equal to the volume of ice that was above the surface minus the volume of air that was trapped in the ice. This will happen in glass of water; just use a bigger ice cube and fill the glass to the rim so you can see the effect.
Follow the money
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:00 — TheLibertineAnd funded by the grand wizard of smoke and mirrors, George Soros.