Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Formerly Classified Global Warming Spy Photos Released

Posted by kdawson on from the inconvenient-images dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Obama administration has released more than a thousand intelligence images of Arctic ice, following a declassification request by the National Academy of Sciences. The images feature a 1m resolution, and scientists who have had to base climate models on 15m- or 30m-resolution photos are rejoicing. The photos, kept classified by the Bush administration, show the impact of global warming in the Arctic and the retreat of glaciers in Washington and Alaska."

18 of 791 comments (clear)

  1. The glaciers are retreating! by Anonymous+CowHardon · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least we're winning the battle against something!

    1. Re:The glaciers are retreating! by DrMrLordX · · Score: 5, Funny

      I never liked them much anyway. So cold and impersonal . . .

    2. Re:The glaciers are retreating! by pedestrian+crossing · · Score: 2, Funny

      JFK was assassinated by time travelling Nazi robots sent back by the NWO in league with the communist vampires, controlled by the Zionist overlords.

      I find your ideas intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

      --
      A house divided against itself cannot stand.
  2. So uh... by acehole · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why was a spy satellite taking snaps of the ice classified? The ice launching an incursion into US territory? Are they afraid the terrible secret of ice will be revealed?

    --
    Be you Admins? nay, we are but lusers!
    1. Re:So uh... by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why was a spy satellite taking snaps of the ice classified?

      They'd tell you, but then they'd have to kill you.
           

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    2. Re:So uh... by WoodenTable · · Score: 5, Funny

      It has nothing to do with the ice, really. It's all about where much of the ice is; specifically, a great deal of it is located in a little-known nation just north of America. The American public is largely unaware of it, and knowledge of its existence could shock them to their very cores, should it come out. The only reasonable response is a blanket of secrecy.

      This also explains a great deal about Alaskans. Since this "shadow nation" is located east of Alaska, not north, they have a different view of it compared to the other states. And it has changed them.

  3. obama was born on the north pole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    prove he wasnt

    1. Re:obama was born on the north pole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      right, because that couldn't possibly have been done in photoshop. nice try though.

    2. Re:obama was born on the north pole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Right, I did your mother in photoshop as well. How the fuck are you alive?

  4. Re:Did we not already know this? by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...not know what a condom is?

    Does the average slashdot crowd?

  5. Re:Did we not already know this? by Duradin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nor are universes.

    Stupid industrial revolution, causing the heat death of the entire universe. What won't mankind destroy?

  6. Re:How long has this been going on? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Us humans doubtless will be able to adapt, but in the short term the impact in terms of our economies and human suffering, will be considerable.

    One of the consequences listed by Wikipedia is the drop in GDP for many (all?) countries across the globe. I'm happy to say that for once we preempted Mother Nature by launching this financial crisis that caused GDPs to drop left and right. We are on track to beat global warming by posting even greater GDP drops in the future.

  7. Re:Did we not already know this? by bertoelcon · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...not know what a condom is?

    Does the average slashdot crowd?

    We know *of* them, maybe not in practice but from our knowledge of "sexual research medias".

    --
    Anything can be found funny, from a certain point of view.
  8. Re:15 wasn't enough? by Ortega-Starfire · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait, you read the articles? I just come here for the stellar conversations.

    --
    ---- Liquid was a patriot ----
  9. Re:1m resolution = One Meter Per Pixel by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 4, Funny

    He already couldn't tell the difference between m and MP as units, so please don't confuse him further. I don't want to have to clean his exploded head off the internet.

  10. Re:Name one reason this was classified by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't think of a single reason that this information should have been classified. Pictures of ice!

    Yes - water we looking for?

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  11. Re:Did we not already know this? by tuxgeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    "The Greenland was once actually green."
    Really? In your life time? You must be really, really old! As far as my history books go, Greenland has been a frozen semi-continent, well, except for now that the ice pack on it is also melting due to rising arctic temperatures, .. Global Warming.

    Okay, I'll be fair about your statement. Once upon a time there were dinosaurs roaming the lands, and probably around that time when Iceland was located near the equator, it was green and lush. Sure, your point has a small bit of value. But completely irrelevant in the context of this thread.

    --
    "Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself." Mark Twain
  12. Re:Not impressed... by maxwell+demon · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought I was going to see a significant movement in the ice sheets, on the order of 10's or 100's of miles. From what I saw, the rate of decline was statistically meaningless, measured in mere feet. My guess is the previous administration was more concerned with releasing something that would show or capabilities of our spy satellites and not trying to conceal this.

    You mean it's declining at a glacial pace?

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.