The latest research from scientists in Antarctica reveals the deep ocean around the frozen continent is becoming less salty and that this could play a major role in changing ocean currents and the climate. New details about changes to salinity are coming from deep beneath the sea ice, courtesy of satellite tagged seals. This unique tracking program involving Australian scientists is part of a major international research program shedding new light on how the world's oceans are changing.
ABC 7.30 Report Transcript: Satellite tagged seals shed light on climate change
On-line video report also available.
Nope - they've been looking at the precip and mass balance - you might as well give the mock defence away. Table S1 is a completely relevant relative comparison of glacier statistics. And most comprehensive too.
All I have been saying is that the study is very professionally conducted. And a few of these systems are accelerating. Any global extrapolation of impacts is another matter.
Yes, I did see the contour map on the satellite image of a small portion of the glacier. And the facts remain that the 2.5km/year is the speed of a very small portion of the glacier.
And in light of the likely above average precipitation produced by the PDO over the 1980s and 90's, it is entirely logical that the subsequent cooling, manifest in recent data, would produce a reduced level of precipitation and a deficit mass balance over the following decade.
No sign of Gore's "manbearpig" here, boy wonder, just natural cycles at work, as usual.
Mate you have been comprehensively found out talking twaddle yet again.
And you fell for it ! It was 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 and you were wrong. Did you see that contour map on the satellite image. ROTFL - Haven't had so much fun in years. Oh my sides hurt. A simple apology on your blog will suffice and we shall never talk of it again.
Gosh, all it takes is for the boy wonder to say something is the case and it becomes true? Dream on little broom stick cowboy.
You've been done like a dinner mate.
Luke, spare us the boorish posturing. You links are entirely consistent with the links I provided. They only differ in the much greater detail provided by mine. People who publish tables that give a single speed for a glacier are clearly trying to mislead. This is especially the case when that published speed is the maximum recorded for a narrow part of the cross section and a short part of a long transect.
Yes, the data on declining mass balance is useful but the missing data on the actual thickness of the ice mass is more relevant. And the facts remain that it is likely to require about 1600 years before the front portion of the glacier begins to float. The remainder will take very much longer still and even then will take longer still to break down due to the topography of the rock base and variation within the up stream cross section.
There may be a few minor changes needed to my own blog post, the most important being the fact that precipitation is so much higher than the Antarctic norm and subject to variation that is fully capable of rendering calculations of mass balance completely redundant.
And I have never said that water could not exist under the ice sheet. What I have said is that the notion that it might perform the function of lubricant is subject to a lot of variables that render the 'mass collapse' theories highly improbable.
And it might be worth checking out the mass balance aspects in the papers with the full two eyes open. Extra precip eh?
Mass balance seems to be something about inputs and outputs. Well isn't that a surprise eh? Funnily enough perhaps our glaciologists may have even thought of this already ! sheeessh !!
The glacier is losing mass overall says the science. Reason is erosion of the frontal buttress allowing faster flow.
You will also notice some papers show that water can seem to exist under the ice sheet - even though you say it cannot.
Suddenly the rhetoric cools quickly, a few random questions are introduced to cover the retreat. Motty glances nervously over his shoulder. Quietly selects reverse gear and slowly backs up hoping nobody will notice.
The lesson, dear readers, is unscholarly analysis by an unscholar. Motty educational experience #1,267 completed. Mission accomplished. Return to base.
Wonder if an addendum or correction will be applied to his own blog post (aka rant). mmmmmm
Nothing to live down. This stuff merely confirms what I have been saying. The rates at particular points are much faster than for most of the glacier which flows at less than 200m a year. Your aerial photo only covers about 50km of a 400km glacier.
More interesting is a final mention of likely cause that has little to do with either loss of ice mass or global warming.
"Another likely cause is the high precipitation rate, around 300 to 400 mm/yr along the coastal areas of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet [Refs. 19 and 20]."
Yes, the glaciers in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet might just be flowing faster than those in the rest of the continent because the annual precipitation is twice as high. Now why didn't the purple press ever mention this highly relevant piece of information? Because it would interfere with a good scarenario, thats why.
And this is highly relevant to the issue of reduced ocean salinity. Nothing like double the rainfall to dillute saline water, eh, boy wonder?
What's fraudulent is yourself. What sheer arrogance !
Oh look a contour map !
http://nsidc.org/data/velmap/pine_getz/pine86_88/pine_vel.html
How fast was that across the terminus again?
http://earth.esa.int/workshops/ers97/papers/lucchitta/
Gee maybe these guys have some science
http://www-radar.jpl.nasa.gov/glacier/Papers/34A037.pdf
You're never gonna live this down ! Toodle pip !