No Arctic ice in 2020??

Question

The article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070501/sc_nm/globalwarming_ice_dc

This was just posted on Yahoo's main page.

What do you think?

Can we do something now to reverse the process or are we too late?

Answer 1

I really liked the part were the scientists said maybe a large volcano can stop the process for several years. I thought we were told that volcanoes don't impact the environment as much as mankind.

So, I'm a thinkin, maybe we can build some volcanoes by drilling into Yellowstone National Park.

Answer 2

This si 20 years from now, sorry but this is only 20 years from now I don't think there is anything that can be done to stop it..

Answer 3

Maybe.

This is the relevant quote from your article:

"We just barely now, I think, have enough time and enough collective will to be able to get through this century in good shape, but it means we have to start acting now and in a big way."

Judgimg from the skeptical nonsense on Yahoo answers, I'm pessimistic about the ability to mobilize the political will to act.  But judging from the real world:

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/a...

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/fu...

Maybe.

Answer 4

I was sent a similar article just recently which I read.  The Arctic Ice Cap expands and contracts substantially through the changing seasons of the year; during the winter months it's much bigger than during the summer months.

It's now beleived that by 2020-30 that during the summer months most of the Arctic Ice will melt and that there will only be a sizeable ice cap during the winter months.

If that's the case then it's probably too late to do anything about it.  Even if we cut our greenhouse gas emissions to zero with immediate effect there's still large quantities in the atmosphere and the world will keep warming for several more decades.

The only way to prevent the summer melting of the Arctic Ice Cap is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (and possibly other greenhouse gases) that is already in the atmosphere.  Schemes are being considered that will do this but if they are implemented it will be in many years time - they're at the early stages of development.

Sadly for the Arctic Ice Cap and the species that depend on it (polar bears, penguins etc) it may now be too late.

Answer 5

I think it is one man's opinion.

I also think that it isn't the first time the arctic ice has melted in recent times and  I also think that it won't have any real negative consequenses for the planet if it indeed melts.

BTW, Trevor, I don't think it will really have much effect on the arctic penguins.

Answer 6

Best thing to do is some research on Deborah Zabarenko to see what other articles she has written to put her article into perspective. Also, the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change deserve at least a yahoo search to dig up information on, if not google too. And finally, I have never heard of "a U.S. ice expert." This is the first time I have heard of their being such a thing as an ice expert.

Answer 7

I think we are too late.