Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonrox
I'll re-read it, but from the articles Devil's posted, it states the growth on the eastern side of Antarctica is very real and due to cooling caused by disrupted weather patterns due to the hole in the ozone layer. The western regions have warmed slightly, but the melting occurring there is not enough to offset the growth on the eastern ice pack.
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FYI
A report from TIME suggesting a decline in the eastern shelf.
http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...rss-topstories
Does this mean anything at this time? Maybe, maybe not. It would be hypocritical to suggest that after a couple or 3 years this represents an overall trend. Nonetheless it's something to keep an eye on from a sea level POV.
Ice loss as a whole in Antarctica is also discussed in yesterday's released Copenhagen diagnosis (page 28) with ice loss increases "estimates" at "104 Gt per year for 2002-2006 to 246 Gt per year for 2006-2009". Interestingly enough the report describes the eastern shelf as being in
"a pattern of near balance" (as opposed to what's reported in the above time article). Uncertainties are acknowledged.
I'm guessing TIME has picked up on one publication and ran with it.
http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.org/