South American Glaciers Melting Quickly

blike writes "The BBC is reporting that south american glaciers are melting so fast they've contributed 0.04mm per year to the global sea level since 1975. In the past 8 years, the glaciers have been melting especially rapidly; contributing nearly .1mm to the sea level every year. Another BBC Article further discusses the issue and examins how the changes affect the people living in these areas."

Comments

So?

[Shihar]

Should I be the first to point out that .1 mm is not a lot? Think about it. Stand on a beach, now raise the water .1mm. Are you still ok? If you were to watch the sea lives rise at this rate for a 100 years, you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference.

Global Warming is certainly an issue to worry about, it isn't an issue to freak out about. People seem to forget that no matter what happens, we are still humans, and humans are masters of changing their environment to fit their needs, and this great power only grows stronger as we advance. We certainly should take care, as not all humans are equal when it comes to the ability to change their environment. That said, the human race is never going to be wiped out because of gradual global climate change. Even under the absolutely worst case scenario it just means we have to live in enclosed habitats. So, relax and be proud that you are member of such a remarkable species.

Humans are mother natures dream come true and her ultimate creation. One day the sun is going to go super nova and everything on this planet is going to die. If earth is the only seed of life in the universe, then all the life in the universe will die. Humans, mother natures ultimate creation, is the one species that has the capacity to, if not entirely prevent this, then at the very least to spread the seed of life throughout the galaxy. Even when we are at our most destructive heights, in the end the planet is much better off for having us. We might be a minor global catastrophe as far as the environment is concerned, but we are just one of millions of such catastrophes that the environment has seen, and we are pocket change to much large cataclysms like comet impacts and high volcanic activity. In exchange for being a minor environmental disaster we staunchly defend life in general and hold the promise to spread it across the stars.

The minor catastrophe of human environmental destruction seems like a more then fair trade in exchange for us trying our damndest to spread life throughout the galaxy and protect this planet from real cataclysms that truly threaten life, like comet strikes and the sun going nova. I think if give then the choice of putting up with the minor harm we do in exchange for the protection to life we offer, or being left to the inevitable fate for all life on this planet without or assistance, mother nature personified would gladly embrace human existence and declare it the best thing to happen to this hunk or rock floating in the lifeless void.

Re:So?

[Red Rocket]

Should I be the first to point out that .1 mm is not a lot?

No. But keep in mind that that is a yearly increase and that it's only 9% of the total.

People seem to forget that no matter what happens, we are still humans, and humans are masters of changing their environment to fit their needs, and this great power only grows stronger as we advance.

Yes! We are GODS! Take THAT Mother Nature! IN YOUR FACE!

Humans are mother natures dream come true and her ultimate creation.

Yes, we are nature's gift to the universe. How wonderful we are and full of hubris. Nature hasn't been working for 4 billion years on this planet just to come up with us, and she never landed on and aircraft carrier to declare, "Mission accomplished."

One day the sun is going to go super nova and everything on this planet is going to die.

No it's not. It doesn't contain enough mass to go nova. You seriously need more education before posting manifestos.

We might be a minor global catastrophe as far as the environment is concerned...

What? Weren't you just saying that we were mother nature's "dream come true?" Make up your mind.

In exchange for being a minor environmental disaster we staunchly defend life in general...

No. We just defend life in specific -- namely, human life. We destroy other life, sometimes gleefully.

...mother nature personified would gladly embrace human existence and declare it the best thing to happen to this hunk or rock floating in the lifeless void.

Only if she's had her coffee and an extra happy pill that morning.

Re:China and greenhouse gases

[Red Rocket]

If it really was about cutting greenhouse gases, it would not allow China to increase theirs.

It's called a "concession." They're used in negotiations to come to what's called an "agreement." You see, there was once a time when people believed that it was a good idea to negotiate problems and try to resolve differences peacefully. I guess we'll just have to nuke them now. That'll stop their greenhouse gasses.

what ACTUALLY makes a diff

[GreatTeacherMusashi]

In geologic terms, glacier melting really doesn't make a huge impact on sea level rise or fall, there won't be a water world cuz of the glaciers melting, they are however, important to the water cycle, far more important than miami being the next Atlantis. So although it's not really proven the "Global Warming" theory is absolutely correct, and the change is slight, we best tread carefully, we honestly dun know what we kind of effect we can have, almost 90% of life on earth went extinct millions of years ago because a little bacteria decided to suck in all the CO2 and pump out 02 (poisonous to most life at that time), so whether or not we should run for the hills cuz of this, is really a moot point, we just need to be cautious, and learn from our planet's past.