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Atlas Takes Heat For Melting Glacier Claim
dtjohnson writes "The 'Times Atlas of the World' claims, while publicizing its newest edition, that global warming has turned 15 percent of Greenland's former ice-covered land 'green and ice-free.' Now, however, scientists from the Scott Polar Research Institute say those figures, based on data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, are wrong. 'Recent satellite images of Greenland make it clear that there are in fact still numerous glaciers and permanent ice cover where the new Times Atlas shows ice-free conditions and the emergence of new lands,' they say in a letter that has been sent to the Times. Others have pointed out that if 15 percent of Greenland ice cover had been lost, then sea levels would have risen by 1 meter... which has not happened. Perhaps yet another climate controversy is brewing."
An update to the Sciencemag.com story pinpoints the probable source of the error: a 2001 map from the NSIDC illustrates Greenland's central ice sheet without showing any of the peripheral glaciers. The Atlas editors may have seen this map and misinterpreted it. Says the article, "Now glaciologists are left trying to figure out how not understate the importance of the extent glacial ice melt, while at the same time correcting the error."
The problem is complicated. Tens of thousands of scientists working in hundreds of different disciplines from experts in plant reproduction to experts in satellite imaging have added pieces to puzzle. Things are accelerating much faster than expected (in most areas and slower than expected in others, remember I said its complicated.) We now have literally more data than we know what to do with, but as we sift through it, the patterns are becoming clearer and clearer.
The polar regions will be hit hardest by warming.
Billions of people worldwide will face water shortages as glaciers vanish and famines when glacier fed waters stop irrigating crops.
Loss of arable land and viable living space will put increasing pressure on growing populations, and fixed national borders will make migration virtually impossible
Changes in ocean chemistry are already causing die offs and increasing blooms of jellyfish, and will probably fuel a mass extinction of key fish populations we rely on today for food.
Forests around the world will experience drought and burn off, resulting in significant loss of plant base carbon sequestration further exacerbating the problem
Increases average temperatures will increase the decomposition of plant matter release increasing amounts of CO2 and methane both greenhouse gases and further exacerbating climate change.
There are thousand of simple facts, including rising sea levels, enhanced storms, enhanced flood/drought occurrence and the spread of tropical diseases. In fact we're seeing all these things right now (check the stats for the last 130 years, its all right there.) Look at trends not instances. The water was muddied by pandering spin doctors working for global fossil fuel interests. There has been an endless campaign of FUD and deception designed to allow billionaires the right to continue pillaging the environment without personal cost. Scientists are primarily interests in exposing the truth. Yes there are exceptions, but I would trust a scientist hands down before I trusted an industrialist. For every point of contention the business folks point at, I'm seeing 10,000 points that nobody can argue with. The bible had a phrase "Straining the gnat and swallowing the camel...".
The fact it has become politicized demands that we get clear that people are willing to continue to block all meaningful action by obfuscation. It it well past time to take meaningful action for cleaning up our mess and preserving a world worth bequeathing to our children.