[vision-master]

I love Lucy.

[GregWatson]

The biggest of the old ice bridge sections is now on the extreme left.

Good bye Wilkins.

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/wil ... 0m_img.jpg

Greg

[lowem]

From rather crude calculations, that's probably around 56 cm or around 1.8 feet in global sea level rise, all nice and melted.

Great. Keep those gigantic icebergs coming.

[wisconsin_cur]

The Mertz Glacier Tongue (67°10′S 145°30′E / 67.167°S 145.5°E / -67.167; 145.5 (Mertz Glacier Tongue)) is about 45 miles (72 km) long and 25 miles (40 km) wide.

As I understand it, the tounge is floating ice extending from the glacier. So only ~half of the threatening 'burg is not already displacing water.



Does anyone know where this is on the continent? If there is a tsunami I am just wondering where the threat would be.

[WildRose]

Cur, the Mertz Glacier is close to Commonwealth Bay, which is at about 70 S and 140 E, so I'm guessing a tsunami wave
would go north towards Tasmania and somewhere between Melbourne and Adelaide?

See below.

http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/information ... astAAT.GIF

[spotacus]

Tsunamis from melting glaciers is not something I know about, I could be wrong. Shouldn't we look at this as just another line of evidence that the world is warming rather then a direct threat. It would be interesting to know how long this ice formation was there.

[WildRose]

Tsunamis from melting glaciers is not something I know about, I could be wrong. Shouldn't we look at this as just another line of evidence that the world is warming rather then a direct threat.

Also, wouldn't it take quite a number of years for the iceberg to reach waters that would be warm enough to melt it?

[sjn]

Tsunamis from melting glaciers is not something I know about, I could be wrong. Shouldn't we look at this as just another line of evidence that the world is warming rather then a direct threat.

Also, wouldn't it take quite a number of years for the iceberg to reach waters that would be warm enough to melt it?

I don't really understand your point. The tsunami would be caused by the calving of the iceberg, as it enters the sea. Once it's no longer land-bound it will displace an equal volume of water whether it's liquid or solid as mentioned above by dohboi.

[wisconsin_cur]

Perhaps that it would be quite the obstacle to navigate around?

[VMarcHart]

Also, wouldn't it take quite a number of years for the iceberg to reach waters that would be warm enough to melt it?

It says in the article.

When it breaks off, the iceberg won't melt straight away because it could take up to 30 years for the currents to move it to water that is warm enough to melt the ice.

[WildRose]

Tsunamis from melting glaciers is not something I know about, I could be wrong. Shouldn't we look at this as just another line of evidence that the world is warming rather then a direct threat.

Also, wouldn't it take quite a number of years for the iceberg to reach waters that would be warm enough to melt it?

I don't really understand your point. The tsunami would be caused by the calving of the iceberg, as it enters the sea. Once it's no longer land-bound it will displace an equal volume of water whether it's liquid or solid as mentioned above by dohboi.

Ahh, I get it now. Like when a very large person gets into bathtub almost full of water.

[VMarcHart]

I was watching The State of the Planet's Ocean and a segment explored that in as early as 2 years, Peru's glacier could be gone, stranding most of Lima metro's 9 millions inhabitants without readily available potable water.

Is this really credible?

I find very fascinating and scary, that doom predictions we thought would happen when I was old, now will happen just 2 years away.

Where will all these people go?

[Ferretlover]

... in as early as 2 years, Peru's glacier could be gone, stranding most of Lima metro's 9 millions inhabitants without readily available potable water. Is this really credible?

Seems like a valid conclusion. And, they are not alone in their predicament.

... Where will all these people go?

Nowhere. As resources run out, what country (countries) do you know that will be willing to take in refugees and use up valuable resources?

[mos6507]

This is why immigration will be a key player in doom. It may start at the national level but will likely cascade all the way down to cities and towns. There will be endless debates about how many people can fit into various lifeboats (some of which already overloaded) and what to do with those who are scrambling to get on board.

[mos6507]

Nowhere. As resources run out, what country (countries) do you know that will be willing to take in refugees and use up valuable resources?

In the short term, many will, including the US, because we remain so ignorant on carrying capacity. It won't last, but the damage will largely be done before the drawbridge goes up.

[VMarcHart]

In the short term, many will, including the US, because we remain so ignorant on carrying capacity.

Absolutely, but not entirely because of carrying capacity ignorance. The Latino and other upcoming foreign-based minorites are key to win elections, and legislators will have to abide.

And further, the US is "obligated" to take on people, and it is "obligated" to help other nations.

Back to the topic, is this disinformation propaganda, or will those glaciers be gone in 2 years?

[FoolYap]

Back to the topic, is this disinformation propaganda, or will those glaciers be gone in 2 years?

Do you think that PBS regularly resorts to "disinformation propaganda"? Just curious if you have any examples of that?

Worldwide, the trend is towards rapidly vanishing glaciers. If this particular show was dramatically wrong in its worst-case predictions, I would think the science refuting that would be easy to google up.

--Steve

[Lore]

Back to the topic, is this disinformation propaganda, or will those glaciers be gone in 2 years?

Would it make much of a difference if it happened in 4 - 6 years?

This will be happening all over the planet. As rivers dry up in the next several years an aquifers become depleted, expect to see many millions of refugees.

There will be a faint attempt here in the US to assist in the problem until it becomes clear that we are under the same hammer. Borders will close, protectionism will be all the rage and the world will slowly unwind.

[Tanada]

I was watching The State of the Planet's Ocean and a segment explored that in as early as 2 years, Peru's glacier could be gone, stranding most of Lima metro's 9 millions inhabitants without readily available potable water.

Is this really credible?

I find very fascinating and scary, that doom predictions we thought would happen when I was old, now will happen just 2 years away.

Where will all these people go?

Lime < Peru. So long as they avoid civil disorder they will be able to shift population within the country and keep everyone supplied. I am a lot more concerned about irrigated farmland than I am about mobile citizenry in a peaceful country, building new pipelines is expensive and time consuming compared to packing up the U-Haul and setting up a tent city until things get figured out.

[Lore]

I was watching The State of the Planet's Ocean and a segment explored that in as early as 2 years, Peru's glacier could be gone, stranding most of Lima metro's 9 millions inhabitants without readily available potable water.

Is this really credible?

I find very fascinating and scary, that doom predictions we thought would happen when I was old, now will happen just 2 years away.

Where will all these people go?

Lime < Peru. So long as they avoid civil disorder they will be able to shift population within the country and keep everyone supplied. I am a lot more concerned about irrigated farmland than I am about mobile citizenry in a peaceful country, building new pipelines is expensive and time consuming compared to packing up the U-Haul and setting up a tent city until things get figured out.

Isn't that the point though? Where will starving, thirsty citizenry move to in a starving country?

I wonder how long the residence of Phoenix and Las Vegas will wait around until a pipeline is built from Lake Michigan? Of course they can move, but that would entail literally splitting ones own pie among a growing and needy population. You have to ask yourself, how long could each of us support a houseful of guests on our present grocery budget? A budget that will soon be busted by the very same thing that drove them to your door step.