Global Melting, Big Thaw
From Greenland to Antarctica, the world is losing its ice faster than anyone thought possible. Can humans slow the melting?
Scientists are finding that glaciers and ice sheets are surprisingly touchy. Instead of melting steadily, like an ice cube on a summer day, they are prone to feedbacks, when melting begets more melting and the ice shrinks precipitously. At Chacaltaya, for instance, the shrinking glacier exposed dark rocks, which sped up its demise by soaking up heat from the sun. Other feedbacks are shriveling bigger mountain glaciers ahead of schedule and sending polar ... Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
