May 29, 2009 -- The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting -- and that could spell trouble for the northeast coast of the United States and eastern Canada. Sea level in those regions might rise by as much as a foot more than current projections, according to a new study. Possible consequences include flooding and damage to both cities and ecosystems. While experts say it's too soon to know how big the effects will be, lead researcher Aixue Hu said it's probably worth bracing for the worst-case scenario. "In some sense, I think we should be alarmed and prepared that something could happen in the future," said Hu, a climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. "Right now, we're not sure which scenario is going to happen. Hopefully, the worst case will not happen." Related Content:
The Greenland Ice Sheet, a large mass of ice that covers most of Greenland, has been melting at an increasing rate since the early 1990s. In recent years, melting has accelerated at a rate of 7 percent each year. Scientists estimate that the ice sheet won’t disappear completely for another 3,000 years, but effects of melting could happen far sooner than that. Every drop of water that melts from the ice flows into the ocean, raising sea levels. The input of relatively light freshwater also alters circulation patterns that cycle water between Greenland and northern North America, which could lead to more water on the North American end. Without factoring in the melting of Greenland ice, warmer surface waters are already expected to shift currents, sending about 8 inches of water above the average global rise to the Northeast by 2100, Hu said. To find out what melting in Greenland would add to the equation, he and colleagues used a computer model to consider three scenarios, in which melting increased at a rate of 7 percent, 3 percent, or 1 percent each year. The team projected out to the year 2100. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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