Comments on: Melting Polar Ice Will Spike Sea Levels at the Equator http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/melting-polar-ice-will-spike-sea-levels-at-the-equator/ Ideas, innovations and discoveries from the world of science Wed, 22 May 2013 12:10:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Cpt Wayne http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/melting-polar-ice-will-spike-sea-levels-at-the-equator/comment-page-1/#comment-10863 Cpt Wayne Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:52:21 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=15543#comment-10863 When the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets begin to melt, there will be a dramatic increase in the Sea Level Rise (SLR) rate. Given the annual global thinning of the world's glaciers is around 1.86 ft/yr and a simple linear rate of thinning, the oceans SLR is estimated to be 260ft higher. Spreading that over 5000 years, we get an SLR of 15-20 mm /yr. We are no where near that rate. When the melt occurs, the SLR will show the rise immediately, not 10-15 years later. It will be greatest at the equator. This so called unprecedented rate is but a blip in the long term SLR required for the melting of these two ice sheets. It does not even qualify as a trend yet. It may if there is a sharp upturn in the SLR to around 10 mm/yr. Yet, even with these numbers it is a 5000 yr meltdown. When the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets begin to melt, there will be a dramatic increase in the Sea Level Rise (SLR) rate. Given the annual global thinning of the world’s glaciers is around 1.86 ft/yr and a simple linear rate of thinning, the oceans SLR is estimated to be 260ft higher. Spreading that over 5000 years, we get an SLR of 15-20 mm /yr. We are no where near that rate. When the melt occurs, the SLR will show the rise immediately, not 10-15 years later. It will be greatest at the equator. This so called unprecedented rate is but a blip in the long term SLR required for the melting of these two ice sheets. It does not even qualify as a trend yet. It may if there is a sharp upturn in the SLR to around 10 mm/yr. Yet, even with these numbers it is a 5000 yr meltdown.

]]> By: Robert Marston http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/melting-polar-ice-will-spike-sea-levels-at-the-equator/comment-page-1/#comment-9806 Robert Marston Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:06:50 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=15543#comment-9806 Sorry to say that these sea level rise estimates are far too conservative. At the very least, we will see a 1 meter rise by end of century. More likely the range will push 2-3 meters. And the possibility for a more catastrophic rise is not out of the question. The human climate forcing is very large. And it calls into question how much inertia is necessary to hold back very large melt events. Sorry to say that these sea level rise estimates are far too conservative. At the very least, we will see a 1 meter rise by end of century. More likely the range will push 2-3 meters. And the possibility for a more catastrophic rise is not out of the question.

The human climate forcing is very large. And it calls into question how much inertia is necessary to hold back very large melt events.

]]> By: Phillip Noe http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/melting-polar-ice-will-spike-sea-levels-at-the-equator/comment-page-1/#comment-9334 Phillip Noe Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:33:54 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=15543#comment-9334 We are deteriorating our only habitat and need to change our ways of suffer the consequences. This is not some nut's doomsday delusion. This is the best science available. Read what the experts have been saying about climate change for over 30 years. Talk to others. Spread the word. Insist your policy makers take meaningful action to reduce global emissions. Our future generations are at risk. It's no deluded fantasy. Without a healthy habitat civilizations fail and people suffer. We are deteriorating our only habitat and need to change our ways of suffer the consequences. This is not some nut’s doomsday delusion. This is the best science available. Read what the experts have been saying about climate change for over 30 years. Talk to others. Spread the word. Insist your policy makers take meaningful action to reduce global emissions. Our future generations are at risk. It’s no deluded fantasy. Without a healthy habitat civilizations fail and people suffer.

]]> By: Will http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/melting-polar-ice-will-spike-sea-levels-at-the-equator/comment-page-1/#comment-9327 Will Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:56:20 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=15543#comment-9327 With all this mass moving from poles to equator, will it significantly lengthen the time of a day? Will this affect leap year timing etc? With all this mass moving from poles to equator, will it significantly lengthen the time of a day?
Will this affect leap year timing etc?

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