From September 3 to September 9, researchers say 69,000 square miles of Arctic ice disappeared, roughly the size of the Sunshine State.70,000 square miles -- or, a bit smaller than Syria --lost in 6 days. Let's see what next summer is.
Scientists say the rate of melting in 2007 has been unprecedented, and veteran ice researchers worry the Arctic is on track to be completely ice-free much earlier than previous research and climate models have suggested.
"If you had asked me a few years ago about how fast the Arctic would be ice free in summer, I would have said somewhere between about 2070 and the turn of the century," said scientist Mark Serreze, polar ice expert at the NSIDC. "My view has changed. I think that an ice-free Arctic as early as 2030 is not unreasonable."
The words "tipping points" have been overused, but what if we're seeing one in the rearview mirror right now?
3 comments:
We are so screwed.
Personally, I figure that by the time the leaders of the world sit up and realize that this actually is a problem it will be too late - the damage will have been done and it will be time to figure out what kind of triage we're going to perform to keep our species alive on the planet. Worst case scenario is more wars in the most habitable parts of the globe as the countries with the largest amounts of firepower bully their way into those areas.
I think we have passed the "tipping point." Even if we cutt all emissions and kill of all those damn methane producing moose, the ide melting that quickly has put things on a roll, a truck barrelling down a steep hill, no breaks, no driver.
Post a Comment