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MyUncle

(924 posts)
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 03:03 PM Dec 2017

Some possible good news about the results of climate change.

This article that highlights how precipitation increases in Alaska that are proof of climate change actually might have some potential good news. Full disclosure, I am a weather and climate geek, so I'll try to keep it basic.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/climate-change-driving-record-snows-alaskan-mountains-study-100623399.html

- There have been huge increases in precipitation in inland Alaska
- We have the ability to measure really old ice because it does not melt.
- Increased snow in inland Alaska will not melt for a really long time. (If it does we are all dead, fast.)
- Increased snow in inland Alaska will add to the growth of the glaciers.
- It is quite possible that the accumulation of water in inland Alaska and in the glaciers could significantly mitigate the amount of water that is being released and melting at the lower elevations near the oceans and rivers. The amount of moisture that streams in to Alaska on the atmospheric rivers that creates the precipitation is enormous and measurable. That atmospheric river filled the lakes in California in a matter of months last year.

In conclusion sea rise from glacial melting might be offset by snow accumulations that are stable as frozen water. That could be good news.

Here is some additional backup information from what I believe to be a very reliable source - http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/california-rains-put-spotlight-atmospheric-rivers

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