Artic Sea Ice Melting Faster, Reforming Slower

April 9th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

seaice

Imagine Texas slowly melting into the ocean and after 8 years it completely disappeared. It’s inconceivable, but that’s exactly what happened to Arctic sea ice. Recent satellite imagery reveals between 2000 and 2008 maximum sea ice extent was nearly 280,000 square miles less than the Artic average between 1970 and 2000, roughly the size of Texas.

Melting sea ice puts Artic animals and plants a risk, as well as humans. Glacial ice acts as giant mirrors reflecting sunlight back into space. Loss of ice diminishes this effect and could worsen global warming. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the United States and the international community to act against climate change, saying we have no time to lose.

Via National Geographic News.

Read More:Artic Sea Ice Melting Faster, Reforming Slower

Glacier National Park Glacier-Less by 2020

March 10th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

subzeroImagine going to a zoo with no animals or an aquarium with no fish. It kind of defeats the purpose and wouldn’t be much fun.

But due to rising temperatures that’s exactly what could happen in Glacier National Park in Montana. Researchers originally believed glaciers would disappear in the park by 2030, but newer research predicts the end of glaciers by 2020.

Over the past 100 years, glaciers in Glacier National Park have shrunk by 67%, marking the fastest recession of any glaciated region in the continental United States; National Geographic News reports.

The 1992 forecast of 2030 was based on data collected during the 1980s, but improved research techniques and further increases in temperature have revealed a revised date of 2020.

Non-polar ice is melting all over the world and receding glaciers can cause drought. As new land is uncovered, plants will overcrowd the area and dry up streams fed by glaciers, endangering the region’s plants and animals.

Scientists say local topography may balance out climate change. In Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park drifting snow from the mountains is keeping local glaciers alive, but it’s a geographical crapshoot.

In related news, the Extreme Ice Survey is using time-lapse cameras in locations like Alaska and Iceland to take a photographic survey of glacial erosion around the world.

Read More:Glacier National Park Glacier-Less by 2020

Extreme Ice Survey: Glaciers are Melting Away

February 13th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

eisice

Melting glaciers are probably the most obvious sign of global climate change. And the Extreme Ice Survey, a project using 26 time-lapse cameras in places like Iceland and Alaska, aims to create a comprehensive photographic survey of glacial erosion.

In this video, photographer James Balog gives you an inside look at the project. It’s amazing!

Via Earth First.

Read More:Extreme Ice Survey: Glaciers are Melting Away

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