At 8:23 AM 3/21/5, Jones Beene wrote:
[snip]
>Consequently, in looking at the "big picture" the experts say that
>something must be done relatively soon about this problem in the Arctic,
>as the tundra is already starting to thaw in too many places for it to be
>anything less than a persistent trend. On vortex, we have an Alaskan
>poster - Horace Heffner- who can vouch for that unusual level of thawing
>and melting of glaciers, first hand.
No need to depend on my anecdotal experience here the last 29 years, though
I agree wholeheartedly with the above. You can see some glacier examples
for yourself at:
<http://www.alaska.edu/scienceforum/asf17/1731.html>
<http://www.alaska.edu/scienceforum/asf17/1716.html>
More importantly, a systematic quantitative investigation is underway which
shows dramatic reduction in glacier thickness (as opposed to length), an
effect which is not so easy to see:
<http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-07/UOAF-stp071502.php>
Fairly recent news reports on local TV here (KTUU) have noted that the 2004
summer numbers, which apparently only recently became available in analyzed
form, show a large acceleration in the rate of melting during the last two
years. I have not seen anything published on this recent development, but
there may be something available somewhere, maybe even on www.ktuu.com.
The TV report I think referred to a 4 ft per year average meltoff rate.
Regards,
Horace Heffner
