Sea Levels May Rise More Rapidly Due To Greenland Ice Melt

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Rising sea levels could become overwhelming sooner than previously believed, according to the authors of the most comprehensive study yet of the accelerating ice melt in Greenland. Run-off from this vast northern ice sheet -- currently the biggest single source of meltwater adding to the volume of the world's oceans -- is 50% higher than pre-industrial levels and increasing exponentially as a result of manmade global warming, says the paper, published in Nature on Wednesday. Almost all of the increase has occurred in the past two decades -- a jolt upwards after several centuries of relative stability. This suggests the ice sheet becomes more sensitive as temperatures go up.

The researchers used ice core data from three locations to build the first multi-century record of temperature, surface melt and run-off in Greenland. Going back 339 years, they found the first sign of meltwater increase began along with the industrial revolution in the mid-1800s. The trend remained within the natural variation until the 1990s, since when it has spiked far outside of the usual nine- to 13-year cycles.

Comments

Re: Crime against humanity

[jd]

If the temperature rises above 2.5'C, it will switch to a new strange attractor. In simple terms, the temperature will skyrocket and the atmosphere will become toxic to humans.

Yes, kickbacks (such as the $22 trillion to fossil fuel) are unacceptable. The rich have failed to psy an estimated $20 trillion in taxes. All of that is money owed to the poor, to community services and to society.

Religion in America is a major cause ofvwar, which is why the state was required to be secular. This should be enforced. No person of faith should be permitted to hold office. Rumsfeld demonstrated the evils of such people.

Corruption in politics should be abolished. America is one of the most corrupt in the world. Big money and corprate lobbying should be banned. The rich should also be prohibited from office.

I'd also mandate a minimum level of intelligence 125% above national average (IQ doesn't count as a measure) and require a provable absence of any symptom of sociopathy.

To eliminate corruption, I'd require 100% of voters to vote, but you can vote for only one person every four years. So if you vote for a senator, yoy can't vote for a represenrative or president.

The supreme court should be by jury pool of experienced non-political, non-religiousjudges. No appontments, no tenure, no prejudices. One case and that's it. Until the government can be trusted, the supreme court must be randomized.

I'd prohibit science denialism. Skepticism should be rewarded, cynicism should be punished. They are not the same.

Prisons should swutch to a hybrid Nordic/Dutch model, fully funded with no provate prisons allowed.

Education should be given a quarter trillion extra, per State, from that fossil fuels subsidy. All exams should be abolushed, along with all religious schools. One national curriculum, politicians get no say in it.

Beef should be taxed into the luxury bracket, along with fast (sorry, painfully slow) food outlets.

Cars should face heavy taxation, cities get serious about mass transit or they get seized under eminent domain.

The police, along with all government officials, should be banned from having guns. There should be no national guard and no reserves. The money saved should be spent on providing social services and the means to get a life. Cities that don't get said life should be walled up. They seem to like walls. They can live how they like, they just can't contaminate others.

There you go, a complete fix, at least for America.