Global warming: Glacier meltdown in Greenland
Mittivakkat Glacier has been surveyed for mass balance and glacier front fluctuations since 1995 and 1931 respectively. In 2011 the glacier terminus has retreated about 22 metres, 12 metres less than the observed record of 34 metres in 2010, and approximately 1,300 metres in total since the first photographic observations in 1931.
The average retreat since 1931 is 16 metres per year. This year was slightly higher than average. If the glacier retreated 22 metres every year, Greenland would be ice free in only 20,000-30,000 years.
To be fair, it’s only August. I’m sure it will retreat much further due to higher November/December temperatures.
Gone in 20-30,000 years. ONLY if it continues to melt.
NO one knows what will be happening by then, but more than likely we will be locked in another ice age. Defining the glacier under all of the other ice will be the challenge.
How will this impact Greenland’s olive harvest this year?
There hasn’t been a glacier building period since the LIA and that one was rather minor. What do people expect? Glaciers don’t grow on trees, you know. Not even bristlecone pines. If glaciers did not ebb and flow over time I’d be very worried.
I thought I ought to point out to Bob a few facts
According to Wikipedia :-
This glacier has been in retreat (negative net mass balance) throughout most of recorded history (1898–2008).
Reindeer bones were recovered from the retreating glacier in 2005, and dated to about 1200-1300 AD.
There does not appear to be many reindeer there these days.
And
A recent paper by Mernild etc says :-
“The glacier is separate from the Greenland Ice Sheet and its climate response as a result more rapid and more similar to other alpine glaciers. ”
It goes on to say :-
“The problem for the glacier is the loss of essentially all of its snow cover in four of the last ten years”.
It has nothing therefore to do with “global warming”. Simply that there has been a dry spell.
And
The study that found reindeer remains found that : –
“The vegetation surface ……indicate that the climate was warmer before the LIA
Bob can’t possibly be this stupid…..
…he has to be doing it on purpose