Study: ‘Runaway’ Melt on Antarctica, Greenland

Study: ‘Runaway’ Melt on Antarctica, Greenland

~ Experts find more ‘pervasive, enduring’ thinning than previously realized ~

The most detailed satellite information available shows that ice sheets in Greenland and western Antarctica are shrinking faster than scientists thought and in some places are already in runaway melt mode, a new study found.

"Dynamic thinning of Greenland and Antarctic ice-sheet ocean margins is more sensitive, pervasive, enduring and important than previously realized," researchers wrote in the paper published online Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature...

In a statement, the British agency said the authors had found that the "dynamic thinning" of glaciers:

- now reaches all latitudes in Greenland;
- has intensified on key Antarctic coastlines;
- is penetrating far into the ice sheets’ interior;
- is spreading as ice shelves thin by ocean-driven melt.


for complete article:
2009-09-24
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32985250/ns/us_news-environment


for Nature article:
Extensive dynamic thinning on the margins of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
2009-09-23
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature08471.html