10-08-2016, 03:35 PM
quote:Yeah, I've seen that report, but also numerous others that insist that the polar ice is rapidly melting. As I recall, the explanation is that mile-thick ice sheets are rapidly calving off, making more icebergs than normal. These icebergs cover a lot of surface area with a relatively thin layer, so while there is more surface area being covered with ice, that actual total volume of polar ice is still diminishing.
Originally posted by terracore
Yet, when figures were released for the yearly minimum on September 10, they showed that there was still 1.6 million square miles of sea ice (4.14 square kilometres), which was 21 per cent more than the lowest point in 2012...."
Was in Venice a couple years ago, and can personally confirm that St. Mark's square now floods a bit at high tide. While it's possible that the armies of us fat tourists are causing Venice to sink, the more likely explanation is that the seas are rising. They've start to spend serious money to address the issue:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOSE_Project
Seems every year lately sets a new record high for average global temperatures. If that trend continues, dat ice gonna melt; just a matter of where and when.