Glacier Melting in Greenland: A Summary

Clement Pisnoy ED 38 - Prof. Poole

NY TIMES Article, "Greenland's Glaciers Take a Breather" dated Feb. 8th 2007

The rate of melting glaciers in Greenland doubled in 2004. This fact encouraged experts to foretell a drastic demise in Greenland's ice, forcing a dramatic rise in sea level. The probable cause of the glacier melting is due to global warming. According to Ian Howat of the University of Wahington, it's not probable that the glaciers are going to melt into the ocean because of global warming. This contradicts previous statistics. During the 1930s and 1940s, most of the glaciers were tinier than they presently are, and in the period between the 1950s to the 1980s there was much glacier expansion because it got colder. The climate underwent waves of subtle variations in temperature that were caused naturally. Glacier dynamics are observed via satellite. Some experts predict that warm periods will become longer and more harsh, refuting Ian Howat's statement.

The recent warming trend has promoted some cause for concern. However, Dr. Howat suggests that it is unwise to panic and make exaggerated predictions that sea levels will rise and flood cities. Climate changes are natural, varying from warm to colder, based on historical data. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was judged for not using current scary data from Greenland in its predictions, and the results were justified under caution. In conclusion, the article basically states that the recent melting of Greenland's glaciers is of no major concern, and that the melting is a natural phase in climate variation. This refutes the recent alarming trend of concern about global warming, caused mostly by the greenhouse effect.