Ice Island Twice the Size of Manhattan Breaks off Greenland
By Steve Kinsman, 17th Jul 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsEnvironment
To those who think global warming is a myth, please hear this.
Greenland ice shrinks rapidly
Researchers at the University of Delaware and the Greenland Ice Service have confirmed that an ice island twice the size of Manhattan Island has broken off of the Petermann Glacier, Greenland's largest. This comes less than two years after another ice island was formed when a section of the glacier four times the size of Manhattan broke away in 2010.
Record melt
The vast flat expanse which stretches to the background in the photo above is the Petermann Glacier, and now over one third of its area has gone, now floating in the sea. Polar scientists are now telling us that sea ice melt in the Arctic has risen to a level not seen since 1972, when satellite observations began. In fact, they say that it has almost certainly not experienced this level of melt at any time during the last 8000 years.
Andreas Muenchow, associate professor of physical ocean science and engineering at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, says "The fact that the break off follows so closely to the 2010 event brings the glacier's terminus to a location where it has not been for at least the last 150 years." He adds that "Northern Greenland and northeast Canada are warming more than five times faster than the rest of the world."
The corporations love the ice melt
As arctic ice disappears, more land and water resources become available for nations and corporations to exploit. Denmark, the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway and even Brazil and China are in a race to the polar region to stake their claims. There are almost no environmental safeguards in place to avert potential disasters. Companies like Shell Oil, now drilling experimental wells, are taking virtually no steps toward protecting the environment where they are exploring. On Sunday, July 15, 2012, Shell's drilling rig Discoverer broke loose from its moorings and beached at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Link:
Extreme Melting in the Arctic
Preview photo from NASA
Other photos: latimes.com
Comments
17th Jul 2012 (#)
This is a tragic news story Steve, for whatever reason these things are happening it is still so painful to read. our world is changing and I know change is inevitable but it still brings a tear to my eye.
Thanks for this heartfelt well written story
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17th Jul 2012 (#)
It brings a tear to my eye as well, johnnydod. It seems the money gluttons will go anywhere and do anything for another buck. Thanks for commenting.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Very interesting article.Thank you.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you Ramalingam. I appreciate that.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
very informative .thank you for sharing .jk
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you jk. I appreciate your comment.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
A few years ago my wife took me to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, we went to a glacier she had been to as a kid, the parks people had marked the glaciers retreat with sticks, it turns out the area we walked on just to get near the foot of the glacier was under the glacier totally when she had last visited, it was really eye opening, maybe we will go back and get photos.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
And to think there are people who think global warming is a hoax. Unbelievable! Thank you Mark.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Every day we look the other way is a day of denial. Companies compete to make their bucks anyhow, sadly. We let down not only our own but also every other species. Thanks for the share, Steve - siva
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
We have been very poor stewards of the earth, it is sadly true. Thank you Siva.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Ditto Johnny's comments, Steve.
As for global warming being a hoax....They need to wake up and smell the coffee because it is no freaking hoax.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
That is absolutely for certain. Thank you Jerry.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Very interesting Steve. Global warming may well spell the end of civilization, more than H bombs
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
I think you could be right about that Madan. Thanks for your comment.
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
Outstanding page, Steve--such an important, relevant issue-- and yet so many ignore it and call global warming a hoax. It's idiotic.
This is a good wake up call and very informative too. Bravo.
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you dear friend. I appreciate your comment.
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22nd Jul 2012 (#)
Scary indeed...
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22nd Jul 2012 (#)
Yes, very. Thank you Delicia.
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