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Greenland Is Getting Darker

sciencehabit (1205606) writes "Greenland's white snow is getting darker. Scientists have generally attributed that darkening to larger, slightly less white snow grains caused by warmer temperatures. But researchers have found a new source of darkening taking hold: impurities in the snow. The new darkening effect could easily add 2 centimeters to the projections of 20 cm sea level rise by 2100—and perhaps more if impurity levels grow with time."

3 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. China anyone? by WindBourne · · Score: 5, Informative

    As long as China insists on NOT using their pollution controls (they built them on new plants per the treaty with japan, but japan forgot to require china to turn them on; besides as we have seen with their money, they really do not care about treaties; only winning a cold war ), this pollution will continue.

    And yes, the pollution really carries that far. 10-15% of the western America's pollution is from China.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  2. Re: ...if impurity levels grow with time. by cjjjer · · Score: 4, Informative

    Scientists have generally attributed that darkening to larger, slightly less white snow grains caused by warmer temperatures.

    Actually I cannot believe that scientists are that stupid. Maybe they should visit here in Winnipeg Canada where we see this every year from the tonnes of sand they put on our streets in the winter. As warmer temps rise the snow banks go from white piles to brown/grey mud piles and as more snow melts the darker it gets and the faster it melts.

    No wonder people doubt climate change when scientists say things like this.

    The only thing that can reduce it is if the melt water floats/washes the impurities way.

    Actual in 90% of the time this is not the case, we get rain in the spring with the piles of mud and all it does is causes the snow pack to compress more (unless the snow pack is already compressed).

  3. Re:More climate lies by MacTO · · Score: 5, Informative

    Try looking up albedo, then performing some calculations to figure out how changes in the albedo changes changes the local temperature. Finally use that change in temperature to figure out how much ice will melt. While your results won't be as good as those produced by experienced research scientists, the basics are well within the grasp of someone with a high school education. Indeed, it is a common exercise for first year students in the physical sciences.

    Once you've done that, you'll be better equipped to assess whether or not this is a climate lie.