City-Sized Ice Shelf Breaks Free Of Antarctica 249
LeadSongDog writes "Germany's TerraSAR-X satellite is showing that the Antarctic's Pine Island ice shelf has calved a 'berg of 720 square kilometres, 'the size of Hamburg.' Angelika Humbert says 'The Western Antarctic land ice is on land which is deeper than sea level. Its "bed" tends towards the land. The danger therefore exists that these large ice masses will become unstable and will start to slide.' The article extrapolates that 'If the entire West Antarctic ice shield were to flow into the Ocean, this would lead to a global rise in sea level of around 3.3 meters.' Goodbye Florida.
FINALLY! (Score:5, Funny)
I knew those 569 acres of land on the Arizona/California border would gain some value. Just didn't think it would happen so soon. Anyone want to buy my new ocean-front property?
Dooomed (Score:4, Funny)
Dooomed we are all doooom.
Dooooooomed!
The poet Smash Mouth said it best (Score:2, Funny)
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored
How's that? (Score:5, Funny)
Could somebody translate that into Chicago-units? Here in the US we're having trouble visualizing this.
New Unit! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dooomed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:New Unit! (Score:5, Funny)
Of course subdivided in smaller units, Hamburgers, of about 1/1.500.000 that size.
Re:How's that? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sea Level Map (Score:5, Funny)
let us celebrate instead (Score:5, Funny)
The world celebrates the ice shelf's newly found freedom, and hopes this will pave the way to democracy in the entire region. When asked about what the ice shelf plans to do with its newly found freedom, it humbly replied "just going to drift a few kms that way, hopefully leading the way for many others to follow."
When asked for comment, the visibly agitated Penguin Brotherhood declined to comment beyond blaming the west-sponsored Carbon Revolution.
Re:The poet Smash Mouth said it best (Score:3, Funny)
Burma Shave
Re:Goodbye Florida... (Score:4, Funny)
I wouldn't worry. You're already in Alabama, so it can't get much worse.
Here's my plan for Florida (Score:4, Funny)
2. Allow the person who understands what 3.3 meters of water means to move to wherever they want
3. Celebrate
Re: How's that? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Goodbye Florida... (Score:5, Funny)
Mobile Alabama is already adjacent to the sea.
Plus it's mobile, so it can just move inland if the sea rises.
Douglas Adams, meet Anonymous... (Score:4, Funny)
Either Jesus will come back and end everything before climate change makes a difference, or God will never let us hose His perfect creation.
The trouble is, there are folks in Congress who believe this and set policy based on it...
Maybe it's just time to build Noah's Ark II.
Also known as the /b/ Ark.