Antarctic glacier melt accelerating

[Barrett808]

Antarctic glaciers are melting faster across a much wider area than previously thought, scientists said Wednesday -- a development that could lead to an unprecedented rise in sea levels.

A report by thousands of scientists for the 2007-2008 International Polar Year concluded that the western part of the continent is warming up, not just the Antarctic Peninsula.

...

The biggest west Antarctic glacier, the Pine Island Glacier, is moving 40 percent faster than it was in the 1970s, discharging water and ice more rapidly into the ocean...

The Smith Glacier, also in west Antarctica, is moving 83 percent faster than it did in 1992...

All the glaciers in the area together are losing a total of around 103 billion tons (114 billion U.S. tons) per year because the discharge is much greater than the new snowfall...

(more)

http://desdemonadespair.blogspot.com/2009/02/antarctic-glacier-melt-accelerating.html

[pscot]

1. Equal to the amount being discharged from Greenland

yearly. Assuming they have an accurate number for the Greenland melt.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. For more information

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=188166&mesg_id=188166

[NickB79]

3. But Glen Beck assures me Antarctica is GAINING ice!

:crazy: