Thursday June 07, 2007

NASA finds vast regions of West Antarctica melted in recent past

terradaily.com :

A team of NASA and university scientists has found clear evidence that extensive areas of snow melted in west Antarctica in January 2005 in response to warm temperatures. This was the first widespread Antarctic melting ever detected with NASA's QuikScat satellite and the most significant melt observed using satellites during the past three decades. Combined, the affected regions encompassed an area as big as California.

The observed melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland, at high latitudes and at high elevations, where melt had been considered unlikely. Evidence of melting was found up to 900 kilometers (560 miles) inland from the open ocean, farther than 85 degrees south (about 500 kilometers, or 310 miles, from the South Pole) and higher than 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) above sea level.

Changes in the ice mass of Antarctica, Earth's largest freshwater reservoir, are important to understanding global sea level rise. Large amounts of Antarctic freshwater flowing into the ocean also could affect ocean salinity, currents and global climate.

See also :

1. Antarctic ice sheet is thinning : scientists
2. Water found under Antarctic ice to raise sea level forecasts
3. Threat of 16 feet rise in sea level
4. Antarctica under siege

(2007-06-07 12:40:27 SGT) [Env] Permalink

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