Okay, so it's the Wilkins Ice Shelf, but it's even more important than news about me. The 6000 square mile (15,540 km2) ice shelf named for Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous Australian Antarctic explorer (and very possibly some kind of relation), is breaking off due to global warming. This is the single largest such break up observed so far.
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It’s going to be quite the busy week here at ASU. John Wilkins is in town, as is Richard Dawkins. For the latter’s talk on Thursday, I’ve managed to snag VIP tickets - courtesy of the RDF - for Wilkins and I.
Guest Blogger: Prof. Steve Steve
Here is a list of Basic Concept posts in Biology.
For the final installment of my Dawkins series, let's have a look at what my SciBling, John Wilkins has to say. In this post, Wilkins takes issue with Dawkins' discussion of agnosticism.
But no reason to worry about global warming, right? It's just God doing a little redecorating?
So, um, how's your region of disintegration? Do we need to call the doctors yet?
Can't recollect any scripture (Christian, Muslim, Hindu or other) claiming that God would prevent people being stupid/foolish/short sighted and so damaging themselves, others or the environment; they all seem to say that we have free will for good or ill.
On a more serious note, the bigger worry is that losing the ice shelf will allow the landbased ice to flow more rapidly to the ocean. As well as removing a large area of high albedo so less sunlight will be reflected back.
Losing an ice shelf shouldn't raise sea level but the cooling effect on the parts of the ocean it floats in and the introduction of fresh water could cause local problems for marine life, if only for a short while.
I know that you have just had a motorcycle accident but I didn't realise it was that bad a smash up!
I am feeling a bit shattered.
But no reason to worry about global warming, right? It's just God doing a little redecorating?
Posted by: dorid | March 25, 2008 11:38 PM
LOL! What concerns me is that this may be the biggest so far, but I don't know how long it will get to hold onto the title!
Dave Briggs :~)