Re: University of Arizona: Arctic will likely see ice-free summers

On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 19:10:05 +0100, Pooh Bear
<rabbitsfriendsandrelations@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>What annoys me is that certain environmental groups assert that ocean ice
>alone causes a rise in sea levels.
>
>Maybe they're trying to dumb down the issue to appeal to the general
>public but I don't buy that approach.

I'd recommend listening to scientists or better reporters, then. For
example, you can see this statement from a reporter at the Inter Press
service:

"If all land ice melted, sea level would rise approximately 70 m
worldwide, according to the U.S. National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)."

Note the use of the term "land ice" here.

Just use good sense.

>For my own part, I'm able to make the larger connection. I find if
>offensive that they I need to be 'baby talked' with a bunch of lies into
>becoming aware of the wider issue.

By the way, I believe I've also read (from the biologist Jared Diamond
summarizing other reports in a book he wrote) that during the peak of
the recent ice age periods the ocean levels were lower than they are
today by about 200 m. Whether or not these quantities are accurate,
they probably reflect a reasonable estimate of the magnitude of the
changes involved.

Bear also in mind that changes in mean temperature of the earth also
*do* cause a change in the density of the water, increasing its volume
still further for the already existing liquid water in the oceans when
temperatures rise. I don't know anything about how much of an effect
that accounts for versus the sheer volume of stored land ice, though.

Jon
.

Relevant Pages