Arctic ice melt 'like adding 20 years of CO2 emissions' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Susan Watts

Newsnight Science editor, BBC News

Loss of Arctic ice is effectively doubling mankind's contribution to global warming, ice scientist Professor Peter Wadhams has told BBC Newsnight.

White ice reflects more sunlight than open water, acting like a parasol.

Melting of white Arctic ice, currently at its lowest level in recent history, is causing more absorption.

Prof Wadhams calculates that this increased absorption of the sun's rays is "the equivalent of about 20 years of additional CO2 being added by man".

The Cambridge University expert says that the Arctic ice cap is "heading for oblivion".
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19496674

[Gregorian]

1. This will be the number one issue. Maybe not yet, but soon.

I'm appalled that people aren't paying much more serious attention to this. Humans aren't as bright as they give themselves credit. Walking on the moon took brains. Yet here we sit watching the legs on our chair crumble under us as we continue on as if nothing were happening.

[emmadoggy]

2. I agree and it's appalling to me too.

I naively posted a picture from CT on my Facebook page, with the only comment of "Meanwhile in the arctic..." hoping at least one or two people might at least inquire what it was, what it meant, what it was all about or join in in some way.

I didn't get a single comment, question, or "like" - until a couple days later when my idiotic, rabid, right-wing brother posted a bunch of links to quackery denying climate change.

At that point I just gave up and deleted the post. I was disgusted, dismayed, and depressed.

Most people seem completely oblivious about it - and I place a lot of the blame on our shitty media and head-in-the-sand politicians. Hell, if it weren't for DU, I would be a lot more uneducated as well.

People are going to continue to keep their fingers firmly planted in their ears until the shit really hits the fan and they are confronted with it head on. And then they will piss and moan about why nobody did anything to stop it or why they didn't know it was coming.

[Gregorian]

4. Yep. You're right.

I was lucky to have grown up in a very bright community. I still correspond with my childhood friend. He's one of the brightest people. Ever since were kids we have been talking about this subject. We were about 40 years ahead of our time. Last week he said something about how the default human condition is that we tend to mess up whatever we encounter. It's pretty much biblical. It helps me in that I've always been flabbergasted and frustrated that this world could be so wonderful. And I've spent many years buying and selling farms and ranches in an attempt to find it. "It" doesn't exist. This week I'm looking at a farm in Oregon. It's news to me that our federal forests are routinely logged. I knew this, but not to this extent. It really blew me away. Given 7 billion people, we're just consuming every resource in sight. And what really got me was all of the brand new and awful monstrosities being built in the name of housing. It's hard to be positive for me. I'm getting there as I age. There is hope amidst the madness.

[joshcryer]

5. The thing is this will open up mineral exploration for countries.

They will go about their business exploring the minerals and we'll "adapt" to hotter summers. Nevermind that clathrates will make the planet unlivable in a short period of time but what can you do.

[joshcryer]

3. Feedbacks.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Wadhams and the AMEG are also screaming Geoengineering....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112723216

I predict he will be a household name in the AGW debate. Starting now.