Glaciers suffer record shrinkage

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7299561.stm
<snip>
The rate at which some of the world's glaciers are melting has more than doubled, data from the United Nations Environment Programme has shown.

Average glacial shrinkage has risen from 30 centimetres per year between 1980 and 1999, to 1.5 metres in 2006.

Some of the biggest losses have occurred in the Alps and Pyrenees mountain ranges in Europe.

Experts have called for "immediate action" to reverse the trend, which is seen as a key climate change indicator.

Estimates for 2006 indicate shrinkage of 1.4 metres of 'water equivalent' compared to half a metre in 2005.
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[mdmc]

1. oh no!

its gettin dry

[mdmc]

2. thanks for the link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2878306

[malaise]

4. Lovely view n/t

[Faygo Kid]

3. I'm taking a break from GD:P to thank you for this post.

Frightening stuff. Just about as important as it gets.

We are running out of time, and I feel powerless on this one. Thanks so much for this post.

[malaise]

5. He's my only candidate

I wish he was running :cry:

[dysfunctional press]

6. "Experts have called for "immediate action" to reverse the trend..."

"reverse" the trend??? :rofl: hell...we can't even slow the trend, and they want to talk about reversing it? :crazy:

[malaise]

8. It will not be fun watching those who denied the warnings

about climate change scrambling to make money from the coming problems.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Here's another example.

a photo I took last weekend along the Richardson Highway here in Alaska. At the base of the snow-covered peak in the background you can see what's left of the Black Rapids Glacier. In 1936 this glacier advanced 115 feet per day for a total of almost four miles during that year, coming within 1/2 mile of the highway. It has been receding ever since. You can see the rock debris left behind at the foot of the mountain in the forefront on the right.

[malaise]

9. We've sure destroyed this planet

Damn!

[mdmc]

10. very nice pic!

:toast:

[NickB79]

11. Well, duh, it's cold up there!

Oh wait, not that kind of shrinkage...

[Uncle Joe]

12. I'm sorry I missed this thread, malaise, too late to recommend,

I suspect the rate of melting will only escalate as more white areas of the planet are replaced by heat absorbing dark areas.