West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw

Subject: West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw Mon May 12, 2014 6:58 pm

Vast glaciers in West Antarctica seem to be locked in an irreversible thaw linked to global warming that may push up sea levels for centuries, scientists say.

West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw 10038784

West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw 10038784

Six glaciers, eaten away from below by a warming of sea waters around the frozen continent, were flowing fast into the Amundsen Sea, according to the report based partly on satellite radar measurements from 1992 to 2011.

Evidence shows "a large sector of the West Antarctic ice sheet has gone into a state of irreversible retreat", said lead author Eric Rignot of the University of California, Irvine, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The coastal ends of the glaciers rest on bedrock below sea level, holding back a vast weight of ice and making them vulnerable to melt, he said. He likened the process to uncorking a full bottle of wine while it was lying on its side.

This part of Antarctica would be a major contributor to sea level rise in coming decades and centuries since the glaciers hold enough ice to raise sea levels by 1.2 metres.

"It's passed the point of no return," he told a telephone news conference.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/10038571/West-Antarctic-glaciers-in-irreversible-thaw

Good!

More ocean real estate to sail in, on our floating tax-haven.

West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw Sovereign-superyacht-888x500

West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw

West Antarctic glaciers in 'irreversible' thaw

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