Ice Shelves Disappearing On Antarctic Peninsula

The US Geological Survey is reporting that ice shelves on the Antarctic peninsula are retreating because of climate change, which could lead to rising sea levels and threats to low-lying islands and coastal communities globally.

Research by the U.S. Geological Survey is the first to document that every ice front in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula has been retreating overall from 1947 to 2009, with the most dramatic changes occurring since 1990. The USGS previously documented that the majority of ice fronts on the entire Peninsula have also retreated during the late 20th century and into the early 21st century.

The ice shelves are attached to the continent and already floating, holding in place the Antarctic ice sheet that covers about 98 percent of the Antarctic continent. As the ice shelves break off, it is easier for outlet glaciers and ice streams from the ice sheet to flow into the sea. The transition of that ice from land to the ocean is what raises sea level.

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Retreat along the southern part of the Peninsula is of particular interest because that area has the Peninsula’s coolest temperatures, demonstrating that global warming is affecting the entire length of the Peninsula.

For those who want to argue against climate change because you’ve taken your orders from your conservative brothers, this is something called science.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.