The recent retreat of Arctic sea ice is likely to accelerate so rapidly that the Arctic Ocean could become nearly devoid of ice during summertime as early as 2040, according to new research published in the December 12 issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The study, by a team of scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the University of Washington, and McGill University, analyzes the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the Arctic. Scenarios run on supercomputers show that the extent of sea ice each September could be reduced so abruptly that, within about 20 years, it may begin retreating four times faster than at any time in the observed record.
The study, its media release, and the subsequent news reports feature powerful visuals of what an "open ice" Arctic might look like. It's a visual metaphor that compares favorably with the ozone hole.
There is a reason that polls show that the public remains more "worried" about the ozone hole than they do global warming, and continue to confuse the ozone hole with the separate issue of global climate change. The reason is that the ozone hole is a powerful visual metaphor, a frame device that galvanizes public attention and concern. Apart from the pictures, the term itself is provocative, and instantly primes the visual image in the public's mind.
And now scientists are producing similar visuals to communicate the findings on the melting of arctic ice. Check out the simulated computer video at this link. If NCAR wanted to magnify the video's impact, they (or someone) would upload it to YouTube and Google Video.
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The global ice melts will have an effect upon the balance of the Earth, as the water is redistributed around our oceans and the sea levels rise.
Is this a possible cause of a Milenkovich cycle?
I posed this question here:
http://www.dwalker.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593
let's preserve marine life. it's for us too.
additional info and sources from http://scipdf.blogspot.com
My thing is, so does this mean that we have to add the polar bear to the "soon to be extinct animal" list all due to Global warming? Not only will the Polar bears need to be added I think but all animals that live in these parts.
By the time the Artic melts the temperature rise will be more than 2 degrees above avage and the planet will be in chaos. This is because ecological services such as pollination, pest control,fish spawning, soil moisture, bird migration, and soil retention will be failing rapidly. Any competent ecologist will tell you that we need to act now not just to avoid a melting artic but to ensure the planet funscions in such a way that our civilisation can continue without disintegrating.
This raises interesting concepts such as those on the affects on symbiotic relationships and how these impacts will flow throughout the world's biota. Another question that needs to be answered is in effect that the earth's wobble may be adding to the woes of climate change? It may be intellectually stimulating to believe that humans can rectify its own undoing, while the planet spins merrily along progressing with change as it has done for millenia.
USA is the #1 country in pollution usage. Even if we were to add all the countries in the world for pollution. United States would still be #1. I dont have to write a paragraph to say what has to be done, clearly we all know what has to be done. Our nation has to take charge, but they are more intrested in "important things".