Thursday, May 31, 2007

NASA Researcher Finds Days of Snow Melting on the Rise in Greenland

Greenland's melting snow can have a major impact on the vast ice sheet and on sea level around the world. "The melting snow produces liquid water that will potentially influence sea levels," said Tedesco. "And some of the liquid water will drain into the glaciers through cracks and vertical passages, called moulins, reaching the bedrock below and lubricating the ice sheet."


[. . .]

To estimate the overall impact on Greenland's snow, Tedesco's study calculated a "melt index," which is the number of melting days multiplied by the melting area. The 2006 data followed the increasing trend from 1988 to 2005. Areas along Greenland's western, southeastern and northeastern coast witnessed the largest number of melt days in 2006.

(Via Universe Today.)

1 comments:

Marti said...

What an interesting article that was! Thanks for the link. Sorry for not being around. Since Pop died, I have to take care of mother-in-law who has Parkinson's. Miss you!

Best wishes for a wonderful day!