Greenland's Ice Melt Faster Than Expected.
Scientists are shocked at the rate that Greenland's Ice Sheet is melting, up by 250 percent during a period spanning May 2004 to April 2006. If the sheet were to completely melt, the sea would rise about 23 feet (7 meters). Take a look at this flood map, which means that all those billions the U.S. spent on the Katrina recovery is wasted, not to mention the enormous losses that would occur in other areas.
Me, I'm currently of the belief that we've already reached the runaway stage and there's nothing we can really do to stop it in a short enough time span to stem such a loss other than some very extreme measures which would completely collapse the global economy.
I also doubt that if such a melt were to occur that the insurance companies would stay afloat (excuse the pun) as they would go bankrupt trying to fill all the claims.
I'm not sure I'd want to own any property marked as being in the flood zone in the coming years.
I am as concerned about the environment as the next guy (I even traded my xterra for a yaris) but stories like these don't help matters. The article said that at the new rate of loss the sea level rises .02 inches a year. Well to reach 23 feet (complete meltdown) will take 13,800 years if you do the math. Well less than 10,000 years ago the US had its share of glaciers. The world climate does change over the years and always will. That being said everyone does need to look at ways to consume less and recycle more.
True,\n\nAssuming a status quo of it just sitting there and melting like an ice cube. \n\nBut there are other accelerators that could come into play such as the carbon sink of the ocean going kaput (increased dead zones); the possible melting of the Siberian permafrost (additional C02); a breakdown of the Helheim glacier (sliding into the sea) or the recent indications of a runaway effect on the Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier or a collapse of the Larsen B shelf in the Antartic.
