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Article: Greenland's less-icy mountains; Climate change (II).(Rising sea levels and the Greenland ice cap)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- February 18, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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On the brink
Evidence that sea levels will rise more rapidly than previously thought
THE biggest unknown factor in making predictions of rising sea levels in response to global warming is the role played by the massive ice sheets that cover Antarctica and Greenland. If parts of these were to melt, the sea level would rise far more rapidly than in the past (when much of the rise has been because water expands as it warms). Until recently, it was thought that any melting going on in the ice caps was fairly gentle. But four years ago a small Antarctic ice shelf suddenly disintegrated, leading many people to think again. This week brings further pause for ...