Greenland ice caps are melting at a faster rate than expected

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Sea level rise is caused by the melting ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, as suggested by global warming alarmists.

The Greenland ice sheet is melting faster than expected according to a new study….

Study results indicate that the ice sheet may be responsible for nearly 25 percent of global sea rise in the past 13 years. The study also shows that seas now are rising by more than 3 millimetres a year–more than 50 percent faster than the average for the 20th century.

If Greenland’s ice melts at moderate to high rates, ocean circulation by 2100 may shift and cause sea levels off the northeast coast of North America to rise by about12 to 20 inches (about 30 to 50 centimeters) more than in other coastal areas. The research builds on recent reports that have found that sea level rise associated with global warming could adversely affect North America, and its findings suggest that the situation is more threatening than previously believed.

How much Rise?

While the rest of the world might see seven to 23 inches of sea-level rise by 2100, the studies show that the Greenland region might get that and more — 17 to 25 inches more — for a total increase that would submerge a beach chair.

The projections of some recent published scientific literature:

Science 2008:  “On the basis of calculations presented here, we suggest that an improved estimate of the range of SLR to 2100 including increased ice dynamics lies between 0.8 and 2.0 m.”  The IPCC famously ignored increased ice dynamics in its projection.

Nature Geoscience 2007 looked at the last interglacial period (the Eemian, about 120,000 years ago) — the last time the planet was as warm as it soon will be again.  Seas rose 1.6 meters (5 feet) per century “when the global mean temperature was 2 °C higher than today,” a rather mild version of where we are headed in the second half of this century.

Science 2007 used empirical data from last century to project that sea levels could be up to 5 feet higher in 2100 and rising 6 inches a decade.

Nature 2009 used coral fossil records from the last interglacial warm period 121,000 years ago (when sea levels ultimately reached 15 to 20 feet higher than now).  It concluded “catastrophic increase of more than 5 centimetres per year over a 50-year stretch is possible.”  The lead author warned, “This could happen again.”

THINK 

Dr.P.Elayaraja