Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumThe Independent: Antarctica 'suffering' because of burning fossil fuels, say scientists
Antarctica suffering because of burning fossil fuels, say scientistsHeatwaves, ice shelf collapse and loss of sea ice have left experts shocked and concerned about the future.
Danny Halpin
Antarctica is suffering because of burning fossil fuels which is causing extreme events that were unthinkable 30 years ago, scientists have said.
Sea ice around the frozen continent is currently at its lowest level since satellites began observing it in 1979, beating the previous minimum record set last year.
A winter heatwave in March 2022 saw temperatures soar nearly 40C above the norm in East Antarctica, from around -50C to -10C, and had it happened in summer it would have began melting the surface of the ice sheets which scientists said they have never seen before.
Because of Antarcticas harsh environment and remote location, there is less data available to unequivocally link events like these with human-induced climate change, but scientists say they are to be expected on a warming planet.
Danny Halpin
Antarctica is suffering because of burning fossil fuels which is causing extreme events that were unthinkable 30 years ago, scientists have said.
Sea ice around the frozen continent is currently at its lowest level since satellites began observing it in 1979, beating the previous minimum record set last year.
A winter heatwave in March 2022 saw temperatures soar nearly 40C above the norm in East Antarctica, from around -50C to -10C, and had it happened in summer it would have began melting the surface of the ice sheets which scientists said they have never seen before.
Because of Antarcticas harsh environment and remote location, there is less data available to unequivocally link events like these with human-induced climate change, but scientists say they are to be expected on a warming planet.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 562 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (6)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Independent: Antarctica 'suffering' because of burning fossil fuels, say scientists (Original Post)
OKIsItJustMe
Aug 2023
OP
AP: Even frozen Antarctica is being walloped by climate extremes, scientists find
OKIsItJustMe
Aug 2023
#2
Think. Again.
(9,622 posts)1. Keep it coming...
...eventually the public will begin to see the light.
OKIsItJustMe
(19,974 posts)2. AP: Even frozen Antarctica is being walloped by climate extremes, scientists find
Even frozen Antarctica is being walloped by climate extremes, scientists find
BY MELINA WALLING
Updated 12:35 PM EDT, August 8, 2023
Even in Antarctica one of the most remote and desolate places on Earth scientists say they are finding shattered temperature records and an increase in the size and number of wacky weather events.
The southernmost continent is not isolated from the extreme weather associated with human-caused climate change, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Environmental Science that tries to make a coherent picture of a place that has been a climate change oddball. Its western end and especially its peninsula have seen dramatic ice sheet melt that threatens massive sea level rises over the next few centuries, while the eastern side has at times gained ice. One western glacier is melting so fast that scientists have nicknamed it the Doomsday Glacier and theres an international effort trying to figure out whats happening to it. And Antarctic sea ice veered from record high to shocking amounts far lower than ever seen.
What follows if the trend continues, a likely result if humans fail to curb emissions, will be a cascade of consequences from disappearing coastlines to increased global warming hastened by dramatic losses of a major source of sunlight-reflecting ice. Thats something scientists have long been watching and are even more concerned about now.
A changing Antarctica is bad news for our planet, said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist, professor of geosciences at University of Exeter and lead author on the paper.
Updated 12:35 PM EDT, August 8, 2023
Even in Antarctica one of the most remote and desolate places on Earth scientists say they are finding shattered temperature records and an increase in the size and number of wacky weather events.
The southernmost continent is not isolated from the extreme weather associated with human-caused climate change, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Environmental Science that tries to make a coherent picture of a place that has been a climate change oddball. Its western end and especially its peninsula have seen dramatic ice sheet melt that threatens massive sea level rises over the next few centuries, while the eastern side has at times gained ice. One western glacier is melting so fast that scientists have nicknamed it the Doomsday Glacier and theres an international effort trying to figure out whats happening to it. And Antarctic sea ice veered from record high to shocking amounts far lower than ever seen.
What follows if the trend continues, a likely result if humans fail to curb emissions, will be a cascade of consequences from disappearing coastlines to increased global warming hastened by dramatic losses of a major source of sunlight-reflecting ice. Thats something scientists have long been watching and are even more concerned about now.
A changing Antarctica is bad news for our planet, said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist, professor of geosciences at University of Exeter and lead author on the paper.