Thursday, December 11, 2003
Disappearing Ice Sends A Warning For Global Climate Systems
Ice in the polar regions, Greenland and in glaciers around the world is melting at an alarming rate as global temperatures increase, and could have radical implications for the future global climate, according to an upcoming book edited by glaciologists Dr Jonathan Bamber and Dr Anthony Payne, of Bristol University.
The book "Mass Balance of the Cryosphere", written by a team of 23 scientists, examines the state of the frozen water in the world, looking at the Arctic and Antarctic regions, Greenland, glaciers and sea ice. The cryosphere comprises all the frozen water and soil on the surface of the Earth, and is an important indicator of short- and long-term climate change.
"In the Arctic, Greenland, West Antarctic and in glaciers globally, ice and snow levels are generally in retreat, and the scientific consensus that average global temperatures will continue to increase over the next century means that the risk to these already climatically sensitive areas is increasing," said Dr Bamber, speaking at the Kyoto Protocol talks in Milan.
"Many people don't realise that there is much more at risk than simply a loss of pristine wilderness. For example the ocean currents that give Europe its relatively mild climate could be disrupted by fresh water influxes from melting ice in the Arctic and the Gulf Stream may slow down or even stop."
While it may true that the ice is retreating, not all scientists are yet prepared to put it down to "global warming", partly because they believe we are still falling within the range of natural long-term temperature fluctuations. If the sea does rise significantly, however, that will be rather an academic debate.
Ice in the polar regions, Greenland and in glaciers around the world is melting at an alarming rate as global temperatures increase, and could have radical implications for the future global climate, according to an upcoming book edited by glaciologists Dr Jonathan Bamber and Dr Anthony Payne, of Bristol University.
The book "Mass Balance of the Cryosphere", written by a team of 23 scientists, examines the state of the frozen water in the world, looking at the Arctic and Antarctic regions, Greenland, glaciers and sea ice. The cryosphere comprises all the frozen water and soil on the surface of the Earth, and is an important indicator of short- and long-term climate change.
"In the Arctic, Greenland, West Antarctic and in glaciers globally, ice and snow levels are generally in retreat, and the scientific consensus that average global temperatures will continue to increase over the next century means that the risk to these already climatically sensitive areas is increasing," said Dr Bamber, speaking at the Kyoto Protocol talks in Milan.
"Many people don't realise that there is much more at risk than simply a loss of pristine wilderness. For example the ocean currents that give Europe its relatively mild climate could be disrupted by fresh water influxes from melting ice in the Arctic and the Gulf Stream may slow down or even stop."
While it may true that the ice is retreating, not all scientists are yet prepared to put it down to "global warming", partly because they believe we are still falling within the range of natural long-term temperature fluctuations. If the sea does rise significantly, however, that will be rather an academic debate.
