The reality of this unfolding drama is truly alarming.
Do we really realize what melting ice on this planet means?The below evidence proves that we could experience sea levels rising by up to 20 feet in the next few centuries.
As glacial ice continues to melt, we also have to consider the loss of mountain-fed river levels that so many of us rely on for our water and utility sources.
Vanishing Earth brings you the climate change facts on global ice melt.
The change in average thickness of global glaciers from 1977 to 2005:
(Measured in Meters)
| -27.9 | South Cascade (US) |
| -33.6 | Place (Canada) |
| -16.2 | Gulkana (US) |
| -11.6 | Urumqihe South No.1 (China) |
| -16.1 | Tsentralniy Tuyuksuyskiy (Kazakhstan) |
| -12.3 | Midre Lovenbreen (Norway) |
| -15.3 | Austre Broeggerbreen (Norway) |
| -11.7 | Hellstugubreen (Norway) |
| -20.6 | Hintereiferner (Austria) |
| -14.5 | Sonnblickkees (Austria) |
| -35.5 | Careser (Italy) |
| -22.1 | Gries (Switzerland) |
| -22.3 | Saint-Sorlin (France) |
| -30.8 | Sarennes (France) |
| -6.4 | Echaurren Norte (Chile) |
Our Vanishing Earth's Unkown Variables:
Climate change has finally been shown supported by a consensus of educated opinion. The facts we have, the data we can look at, and the realities we have to face are a "known" variable. Climate change in 2007 offers us no time hesitate.
The unkown variables, however, support the thoughts that our Vanishing Earth is going to show us change as a result of what we have done already without an effective response on our part.
An Example:
Snow reflects the sun's light and heat, so some melting today means faster melting tomorrow.
As glaciers melt, their altitudes become lower to where tempertatures are warmer.
Meltwater passes through glacial crevasses which lubricates flowing, causes faster breakup, thus speeding up melt.
Thinner ice loses its' hold on mountains, which accelerates glacial slide.
Our warming Oceans simply melt ice faster.
The Ice Age and Temperature Changes
Earth's last Ice Age peaked approximately 20,000 years ago, after which the Earth again began to warm. So how can just a few degrees change the Earth?
Fossil evidence shows that 15,000 years ago, people were roaming the plains and forests in North America during the ice age, hunting enormous mammals that became extinct by about 10,000 years ago. The ice age's climate effected the habitats in high northern and southern latitudes more than in equatorial zones.
The measure of surface temperatures for the worlds oceans, reconstructed from ocean cores, the carbon dioxide content of the air, derived from ice core data, and the slightly modified solar radiation at that time, the mean temperatures during the last ice age were about 4`C lower than today.
That's right - Just 4 Degrees.
