1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Sea-level doom from Antarctic melting

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by tochatihu, Sep 23, 2024.

  1. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2004
    9,156
    3,562
    0
    Location:
    Kunming Yunnan China
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    .. has hit media recently so let's take a look here:

    ITGC Thwaites Glacier

    Thwaites glacier melt is now raising sea level by about 2 millimeters per year (within total 3.5 to 4 mm/yr). If it all goes, would increase sea level by 65 cm. Ice guys think that could happen in about 2 centuries.

    Other ice contributes to sea-level rise but all taken together seem unlikely to raise sea level by > 1 meter by year 2100. That's not enough to trash most global commercial ports (but maybe a few). It would be enough to harm ~ half billion global residents, mostly poor people.

    Most important here is that oceans have already been warmed by +CO2. Holding that line at current level will not prevent it. Baked in.

    ==
    Separately we could consider west Antarctic ice sheet mostly held back by Thwaites. It melted has ~ 3 meters of sea-level rise, but would require more centuries. Most other Antarctic ice looks very stable now see link above.

    ==
    Other things that future +CO2 can do, including +T and increased climate variability could be limited by not making CO2 higher. They have much shorter time controls. I think it merits attention, what we can or cannot do.
     
  2. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    371
    88
    10
    Location:
    Third Rock from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The planet is moving off its axis.
    Where there was always heat, now it snows.
    Melting glaciers are falling on the lands of the African continent.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    reading the history of the world, early people migrated north as the ice receded