Iceberg From Antarctica? Is this the Start of all Pending Doom?

Question

Ok, an ice cube breaks off of Antarctica. Is this the canary? Is this the tipping point?

Probably not. Let's not forget that it is summer in the southern hemisphere and the ice should be receding. This is only normal.

Is the ice at Antarctica melting to a tipping point? Well, no. The ice at Antarctica has been steadily increasing since 1979.

"Sea ice in the Antarctic has shown very little trend over the same period, or even a slight increase since 1979." (section 3)

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

So what's the big deal?

Should we expect the same amount of panic when the first hurricane forms in the Atlantic?

Ice breaks off of ice sheets. This is what ice does, especially in the summer. This is just normal, why are the believers making such a big deal? Can you be that desperate for a sign?

Answer 1

Have you heard others besides the 'left wingers' @ Fox News proclaim:  "Scientists are shocked by the rapid change of events."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,3414...

Isn't ice 90% underwater? Will this cause massive flooding? (Mis educated Chicken Littles might)

Here is what no one seems to know = Speaking of Antarctica: "It's the only place on the planet where active seafloor and subaerial (above sea level) volcanoes are near large icebergs and ice sheets."

Listen to climate change:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian...

Quote:

""Earthquakes and magma spewing on the seafloor go hand in hand, and what we are seeing is, there are new heat sources right off the coast of Deception Island that no one was aware of before." +

""Since three-quarters of the Earth is covered by ocean, the vast majority of volcanic activity on Earth is occurring without our knowledge undersea." So it's unknown how much heat and chemicals the underwater volcanoes spew into the ocean and atmosphere, affecting global ocean temperatures and climate, he says."

Answer 2

It's not that much desperation.  But (give me a bad rating, I know I'll get them) global warming is real and the ice breaking off is but another brick in the wall of science.

It is also uncertain with Antarctica.  Some say ice in increasing.  Others say that it is decreasing.  There is no real consensus yet.

Answer 3

Well obviously the confusion is Al Gore's fault.  He's down there somewhere with a propane torch, probably wearing a skirt.   I think you're wise to be so vigilant!

Answer 4

I think the hardest thing for people to understand is that if there is any impact from Global warming no one alive today will be there to see it.  The last time I checked the average temperature down there in the Antarctic was a balmy minus 35 degrees celcius.  So I don't think the whole thing will melt any time soon, but tell that to the people of Tonga.  Well it isn't very smart to live on a flat Island anyways.  As far as hurricanes go you obviously weren't in Houston Texas for Hurricane Rita.  Panic would have been an understandment.  I saw people fighting over water like it was the end of times.  Haha.  I sat back through the whole thing and like a good college student said "Save water, drink beer"

Answer 5

well there's no doubt the earth's climates are changing. but the question is what's causing it: mankind or nature? If it's nature, then were all screwed. If it's mankind, then we can at least try to do something about it. But there's just some people who want to doom us all (ex US government and oil) just for money.

Answer 6

Hey, it happens every year!

Several years ago an iceberg described as being the size of Wales was floating in the sea.

It amazed me how big of an issue the news made of it.

Some people were making comments like 'as it moves further toward the equator and begins to melt then sea levels are going to rise!'!!!

The fact is that once it was in the water it had already displaced the volume of water that it would create on melting, hence no affect whatsoever!

But this is the simplest of science which can not be comprehended by far too many people.

I guess the big deal actually, is that some people are quite proud to show to the rest of the world how stupid they really are!

In the future though I wouldn't bother stating any facts with your question since those that already know the truth already know the facts and the others are so narrow-minded and set in their beliefs that facts will only confuse them.

Cheers

Answer 7

because Im lazy:

I read the article too. I think its VERY FUNNY how they dont even mention that the sea ice coverage in Antarctica is way above average right now, 1.281 million sq. km. above average for this time of year. Wilkins sea ice shelf is on the western side of the peninsula, the ONLY area where there isnt much sea ice forming, whereas the rest of Antarctica seems to be icing over quickly. They did not report this though, did they?

Answer 8

Have a look at some of the websites of people who actually live there.

Summer temperatures get up to 10 degrees C usually.

There are regularly swimmers diving in for charity!

Yes the world is heating up, but will soon be cooling again.

We are in an interglacial period - that has existed since before the medieval period. At this time temperatures were warmer than today - and they were growing grapes in the UK!

GW is affected by many things - orbit, Sun activity, atmosphere, &% water in atmosphere, volcanoes, wildfires, many things; Humans are way down on the list.

Yes it is a good idea to limit our fuel use - as when this runs out - all governments fall - and they don't want that do they!

Answer 9

Did you read closely? Someone predicted this ice shelf would break off if warming continued, but looks like he miscalculated because he didn't expect it to happen this soon. It hasn't broken off yet, but if it does in the near future will this constitute the verified prediction you were asking for?

Answer 10

I predict that within the next 30 years, ice will form there due to global cooling.

That's laughable.  Predicting an ice sheet will break off within a 30 year time period is not going out on a limb.  Even palm readers can predict something is going to happen to you in 30 years and be "right".

If ice shelves didn't break off occasionally, then the sea ice would stretch from Antarctica to South America and Africa by now.

No, I want some specific predictions and forecasts.  Tell me what the temperature is going to be 2, 5, 10 years from now and how that is related to CO2 increases.  Don't give me some prediction of something that is going to happen anyway.

Answer 11

As usual, you and Dana always answers your own questions and 100% sure your right. But I agree with your answer to your own question Jello.

Answer 12

The problem is that the iceberg broke off during a year when we had a substantial drop in temperatures, so why are people blaming global warming, that assumes such events happening due to a rise in temperatures.  

Anybody who lives in the northern hemispheres and has seen the spring thaw knows that rising temperatures causes snow to melt, not brake off.

Answer 13

Better science reference for this than your NCDC link.  Note the part in the abstract about how the ice shelfs that have advanced and retreated in the past are the ones that are most sensitive to changes in climate, and precisely the ones you would expect to collapse first if the planet were warming.  

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v43...

This isn't a subtle point.