New Island Formed By Global Warming

[dgridley]

As the satellite pictures and the main photo which we publish today make clear, Warming Island has been created by a quite undeniable, rapid and enormous physical transformation and is likely to be seen around the world as a potent symbol of the coming effects of climate change.

But it is only one more example of the disintegration of the Greenland Ice Sheet, that scientists have begun to realise, only very recently, is proceeding far more rapidly than anyone thought.

The second-largest ice sheet in the world (after Antarctica), if its entire 2.5 million cubic kilometres of ice were to melt, it would lead to a global sea level rise of 7.2 metres, or more than 23 feet.

That would inundate most of the world's coastal cities, including London, swamp vast areas of heavily-populated low-lying land in countries such as Bangladesh, and remove several island countries such as the Maldives from the face of the Earth. However, even a rise one tenth as great would have devastating consequences.

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2480994.ece

Whether global warming has been caused by man, hastened by man, or is simply a natural occurence.. it's something we definitely need to be concerned about.

 

[fonzie_007]

More reason for us Americans to keep driving our gas-guzzling SUVs, not recycling, and not ratifying Kyoto. We (humans) are the biggest threat to our own existence.

 

[Dan]

We (humans) are the biggest threat to our own existence.

Actually, cow farts are.

 

[dhscott]

Actually, cow farts are.

Fact!

I don't believe this is entirely new news, I think I've seen a similar story a few months ago.

Denmark, it seems, are the only ones to gain from global warming. They have Greenland to move to! Plus I hear there are huge oil deposits underneath...

Mmm, even warmer!

 

[fonzie_007]

Actually, cow farts are.

There aren't any cows (that I know of) that can scuba dive. Do some research about the methane that is being released from the ocean and you will find a larger problem. The last time methane was released on a mass scale from the oceans 1/2 of all life died. Let's keep our fingers crossed global warming doesn't cause the same catastrophe.

 

[peaches017]

Actually, cow farts are.

There aren't any cows (that I know of) that can scuba dive. Do some research about the methane that is being released from the ocean and you will find a larger problem. The last time methane was released on a mass scale from the oceans 1/2 of all life died. Let's keep our fingers crossed global warming doesn't cause the same catastrophe.

First you say humans, now it's the ocean? I'm sure Dan was going along the same lines you were: preventable damage (SUV's, Kyoto treaty, whatever). Dan's statement is true, the methane that cows produce (through farts) is just as big of a threat to the environment as are the human causes you listed.

To bring the oceans into a discussion about facilitated causes (driving, breeding cows) seems out of place. If what you say is true, then in fact "we humans" are not the biggest threat to our existence, the potential for the ocean to release a dangerous amount of methane is. (I haven't heard about this, so I'd love a link if you have one handy).

And as for your scuba diving cow:

 

[Skinny]

haha.

Too bad. Doesn't look good.

warmingisland.com taken. Boooh.

Skinny

 

[fonzie_007]

(I haven't heard about this, so I'd love a link if you have one handy).

And as for your scuba diving cow

I actually saw a PBS documentary that talked about it, but here are a few links that discuss the issue:
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=227
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030828071722.htm

PS I love the cow pic!

 

[Dooodles]

I think that we are too far gone to stop GW. Mainly because how many people will or want to stop doing everyday thing like driving to the shops, using the internet, going on holidays etc even if 1,000,000 stopped it still would not be enough.

 

[lpstong]

Hmm... Global warming was realized back in the 1860's when the industrial revolution began. Hearing about it now is no big surprise. And by the way. If anyone has noticed the world changes all the time....Hence why there is several land masses compare to there only be on several thousands of years ago. No dinosaurs etc. Many islands raise and go away do to earthquakes...

So there is more water. Just make sure everyone has a lemon tree to make more lemonade....

 

[commes]

I agree with Dooodles, it is far to late to stop what is gonig to happen. We've already caused to much, and theres no way we can change it. So the best that we can do, is not move to coastal cities!haha...and somehow cover up the oceans so they cant release methane at all....and maybe throw the cows in the ocean before we do that...maybe then we'll be safe!

 

[Dan]

I don't actually believe in global warming. The Earth has always gone through changes like the poles reversing and climate changes. I think that everything will even back out like it has before and we'll all be fine. :D

(It won't affect our generation, anyways.)

 

[dgridley]

I plan to buy up plenty of land inland and build beachfront hotels now (and an ark, just in case).

 

[commes]

Dan that does make sense, and at times, i don't agree with global warming either. Like really, look how many times there have been ice ages and whatnot, is that all do to global warming, look at the different sdpecies that have been killed off is that because of global warming?In the end, the earth was just start back at square one and the human race will somehow restart itself, or maybe there will be a different, smarter, dominant race. I dont worry about global warming to much really because, call me selfish, but it's not gonig to affect me, I'll be long gone before it has any HUGE effects.

 

[lpstong]

Global warming did not kill the dinasaurs and or make the land break up in different masses. Nor does Global warming make earthquakes to make islands rise or sink either.

People indeed need to take care of their enviroment and be very conscience about it. But there are others that are extremists. What I would equate religious fanatics and the end of the world theories. Get those nikes, koolaid drinks and bring on the UFO when the next Comet or meteor system passes through my sky.

 

[biznews]

stupid human. 5 people conserve. rising population. 10 people conserve = 5 people using same amount of resources.

if human serious. they stop this non sense and abandon technology. live life of amish. earth is doomed to crash. applying brakes no help. stupid human. reduce global population.

stupid man.

 

[Dooodles]

^^^^^^ Okay then.........

 

[fonzie_007]

Let me ask this: How many people in here are scientists who have actually studied global warming? My guess is zero. Now, do your research and go out and check how many scientists who actually study global warming do not believe it exists. Furthermore, check all reputable science journals and try to find an article that was peer reviewed and scrutinized that dispels the conclusions humans are having an impact on global warming. You will find maybe a handful. Of these, most are paid by coal and energy interest, often millions of dollars, to offer doubt. Certainly, their credibility is certainly at issue.

The energy companies are employing the same tactics as the tobacco companies--create doubt within the science. While questioning is a good thing, there are something things we must own up to. For instance, I actually saw a tv commerical the other day that made it appear as if driving a gas-powered car was GOOD for the environment!

It is true the earth has undergone trends of warming and cooling. The distrubing aspect of this particular warming is that it is happening much faster than pervious warming period--and yes, scientists have data from thousands and thousands of years ago to prove this trend.

Regardless if you believe the global warming our planet is being primarily caused by humans, you need to ask yourself two things: 1) Does this give us (humans) license to pollute unnecessarily, and 2) What happens if you are wrong?

Some people may overestimate the significance (or lack thereof) of global warming, but global warming is a FAST and I certainly do NOT want to be on the wrong side of this issue.

 

[Dan]

Let me ask this: How many people in here are scientists who have actually studied global warming? My guess is zero.

Considering you just said you haven't studied it, how are you going to try to push this onto everyone?

You're probably basing your argument off of a PBS documentary which probably tried to prove it existed, An Inconvenient Truth, and the fact that SUV's get bad gas mileage.

I have studied global warming. There is no certainty either way, and that's how it will be until something or absolutely nothing happens.

Let's say global warming does happen, anyways. A bunch of people die, and now there is less horrible gases and pollution. Once again, the Earth will even out with less people and life will go on.

 

[fonzie_007]

Considering you just said you haven't studied it, how are you going to try to push this onto everyone?

I was alluding to the fact I will defer to experts on the subject. I am just relaying the information I have heard from experts in the field. Of course, don't take my words as facts--I am just restating what I've heard from others who I consider to be experts in the field. I encourage everyone to seek information from reputable scientists and researchers on your own.