Comments on: Donald Blankenship researches which ice sheets melt first http://earthsky.org/earth/in-warming-climate-which-ice-sheets-melt-first A Clear Voice for Science Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:20:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Hank http://earthsky.org/earth/in-warming-climate-which-ice-sheets-melt-first/comment-page-1#comment-6773 Hank Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:21:58 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4418#comment-6773 <p>Blankenship’s description of the structure and quantity of ice in the East Antarctic ice sheet seems well articulated and plausible. But then he jumps off the deep end (no pun intended) and travels down a seemingly disjointed discourse on all of the ice melting from global warming and suddenly raising the global sea level by 200 ft. Even the UN-<span class="caps">IPCC</span> has backed away from such outlandish predictions (which weren’t nearly as outlandish as the scenario proposed by Blankenship if it is to be taken seriously). </p> <p>The only conclusion I can come to is Blankenship is attempting to use sea level rise to provide a comparative sense of how much ice there is in the Antarctic and which sheets would go first if the Antarctic temperatures were to suddenly rise and melt them. If so, the mixing of global warming dooms day alarmism with otherwise sound research has confused the point.</p> Blankenship’s description of the structure and quantity of ice in the East Antarctic ice sheet seems well articulated and plausible. But then he jumps off the deep end (no pun intended) and travels down a seemingly disjointed discourse on all of the ice melting from global warming and suddenly raising the global sea level by 200 ft. Even the UN-IPCC has backed away from such outlandish predictions (which weren’t nearly as outlandish as the scenario proposed by Blankenship if it is to be taken seriously).

The only conclusion I can come to is Blankenship is attempting to use sea level rise to provide a comparative sense of how much ice there is in the Antarctic and which sheets would go first if the Antarctic temperatures were to suddenly rise and melt them. If so, the mixing of global warming dooms day alarmism with otherwise sound research has confused the point.

]]> By: Deborah Byrd http://earthsky.org/earth/in-warming-climate-which-ice-sheets-melt-first/comment-page-1#comment-6748 Deborah Byrd Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:20:45 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4418#comment-6748 <p>Coalsoffire,</p> <p>If an ice sheet has its base below sea level, and that icy base melts, then the entire sheet sinks a bit. A new section of the ice sheet goes below sea level, becoming the new base. Then – as with the previous base – the new base of ice has a greater potential to melt (where before it was frozen). That’s one way melting ice sheets can raise sea level. </p> <p>Best,</p> <p>Deborah</p> Coalsoffire,

If an ice sheet has its base below sea level, and that icy base melts, then the entire sheet sinks a bit. A new section of the ice sheet goes below sea level, becoming the new base. Then – as with the previous base – the new base of ice has a greater potential to melt (where before it was frozen). That’s one way melting ice sheets can raise sea level.

Best,

Deborah

]]> By: coalsoffire http://earthsky.org/earth/in-warming-climate-which-ice-sheets-melt-first/comment-page-1#comment-6747 coalsoffire Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:59:53 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4418#comment-6747 <p>This article makes no sense whatsoever. If the ice that’s at risk is below sea level and water rushes in to fill the void created by melting how does that have the capacity to raise sea levels? Quickly or otherwise? None of the rest of the article is any more coherent. Likely this guy knows something about these things but somehow he’s either blinded by alarmism or the author of the article has twisted everything to support that agenda. In the end, what has been presented is nonsense.</p> This article makes no sense whatsoever. If the ice that’s at risk is below sea level and water rushes in to fill the void created by melting how does that have the capacity to raise sea levels? Quickly or otherwise? None of the rest of the article is any more coherent. Likely this guy knows something about these things but somehow he’s either blinded by alarmism or the author of the article has twisted everything to support that agenda. In the end, what has been presented is nonsense.

]]> By: a p garcia http://earthsky.org/earth/in-warming-climate-which-ice-sheets-melt-first/comment-page-1#comment-6741 a p garcia Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:52:24 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4418#comment-6741 <p>How does your explanation supercede Archemeides Principle? I read an article that if it weren’t for resonance frequences set up by ocean waves, the icebergs could be towed to the middle east. If it is below 32, ice can’t melt but sublimation can continue. Why do you disreguard sublimination? After all <span class="caps">ICE</span> has a water vapor pressure even if it is below freezing temperature. Did you forget that Antaractica is one of the driest places on Earth + sublimination + water vapor pressure means Ice will disappear even it is below freezing.</p> How does your explanation supercede Archemeides Principle? I read an article that if it weren’t for resonance frequences set up by ocean waves, the icebergs could be towed to the middle east. If it is below 32, ice can’t melt but sublimation can continue. Why do you disreguard sublimination? After all ICE has a water vapor pressure even if it is below freezing temperature. Did you forget that Antaractica is one of the driest places on Earth + sublimination + water vapor pressure means Ice will disappear even it is below freezing.

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