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Only 3 Percent Of Greenland's Ice Sheet Remains ... Is It Time To Worry?
Update: Just to clarify, the ice sheet melting is the top layer of the ice block, not 97% of the ice in Greenland.Drastic changes in the environment have been occurring for quite awhile, many attributing the cause to global warming. However, while these transformations usually occur over long periods of time, a recent rapid melting of Greenland's ice sheet has left only 3 percent, leaving scientists stunned.
From July 8 to July 12, NASA satellites recorded a 97 percent thaw of the ice. Melting was even seen at Summit Station, the country's highest and coldest place. Usually, scientist's would expect a change this drastic to occur over a 150-year period.
"This was so extraordinary that at first I questioned the result: was this real or was it due to data error," Son Nghiem, a researcher from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, told Digital Trends.
Apparently, the melting was caused by a very warm steam of air that enveloped Greenland. While locals chatted about how sunny it was, the occurrence is actually part of a much larger – and scary – picture.
What are your thoughts on global warming?
[photo via Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
yaddamaster Jul 26th 2012 5:22PM
are.you.freaking.kidding.me???? This drivel from Gadling? Jessica - you're either putting us on or incredibly and monstrously stupid.
97% of the ice did not melt. 97% percent of the total ice sheet experienced melt. That's a huuuuuuuuuge difference.
Second, the very author of the study said that this warming trend occurs every 150 years or so and this warming trend is right on schedule. Check out the quote from Laura Koenig near the bottom.
idiot
ssw Jul 26th 2012 5:39PM
Gadling does need to issue a correction here. 97% of the ice cap experienced melting -- that is, on the surface. It's unusual for Greenland, since there's usually only about 40% of the surface of the ice cap which melts at maximum. Keeping in mind that the ice cap can be miles thick in places, that doesn't mean that 97% of the ice in Greenland is gone. If that had happened, Albany, NY would be oceanfront property.
You must get the facts right on this stuff. Yes, the development in Greenland is potentially a huge concern. It may turn out to be something which just happens from time to time. But it could be a harbinger of global warming effects. It's something NASA will be watching closely.
Your writers need to read and understand the reporting they are using as source material before reposting.
They should also proof-read their work, not just run it through a spell-checker.
Dave Jul 26th 2012 6:12PM
Wow! Either this writer failed to comprehend their source material in any way or they are a massive troll.
Greenland's icesheet contains enough water to raise sea levels by 7 metres or so. There'd be a few soggy cities around the world if 97% of the ice had melted.
If this is the quality of writing to be found on Gadling nowadays, it's probably time to move on.