Thursday, December 29, 2016

The NEGIS Revisited

Fig. 1 Moody Blues - Live @ Red Rocks
Comprehensive results covering several topics show up when one takes a look at "The NEGIS" (North East Greenland Ice Stream).

We hear the terms "ice sheet" and "ice shelf" often, but rarely do we hear the term "ice stream."

NEGIS is one such "ice river" which travels some 700 km. from the central Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) highlands, northeast to then empty into the Fram Strait.

That strait is on the east side of Greenland (Weekend Rebel Science Excursion - 53, Peak Sea Level - 6).

Fig. 2 NEGIS in context
It contains about 16% of Greenland's Ice (Fig. 2).

I have written previously that we should keep an eye on the ice shelves, because they are the only impediment to acceleration of ice sheet and ice stream flow into the oceans  (Watch The Ice Shelves, 2, 3, 4).

The reason for the focus on this subject matter is the danger it poses to civilization as we know it (Greenland & Antarctica Invade The United States, Why Sea Level Rise May Be The Greatest Threat To Civilization - 3).

The one ice stream we are talking about is a significant factor in the invasion:
"Understanding the impacts of climate change on ice sheets and the subsequent changes to global sea-level over 100 – 1000yr timescales are fundamental scientific and societal challenges. This project will focus on ... NEGIS ...; a key sector of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) because it controls ice flux into the NE Atlantic (an area sensitive to freshwater input) and it holds a sea-level equivalent (SLE) of ~1.4m [4.6 ft.]."
(Greenland @ Warmer Climate, emphasis added; cf. AGU on NEGIS). Add to that the fact that the Arctic's largest ice shelf is now the resident resistance to the NEGIS:
"The largest Greenland and Arctic ice shelf is now at the front of the North East Greenland Ice Stream."
(Jason Box). Not to mention that it is breaking up even as we speak, because of among other things, the warming of the Arctic (ibid).

Fig. 3 Texas Observer
We hear a lot from Paleoclimatology about ancient sea level (see Fig. 1 sea level marks in rock deposits), but we really do not need to know that to know what is coming (the attendees of the Moody Blues concert are focused on the world as it is now).

So, the existing sea level change of "~1.4m [4.6 ft.]" which is moving toward the ocean around Greenland is of utmost importance, especially since a fellow soldier in that invasion is doing the same thing in Antarctica (Don't Believe In Abrupt Sea Level Change - Know About It - 3).
Fig. 4 PSMSL Station 161

The Red Rock ancient sea level lines (Fig. 1) of the past hovers over our paleounderstanding of what was.

But our understanding of the future is incomplete unless we factor in ice sheets, ice streams, and ice shelves.

The government is ignoring the invasion by approving export of fossil fuels from a port area that is increasingly an endangered species because of sea level rise in the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

Now.





1 comment:

  1. Thanks for all the knowledge (and wisdom) Dredd!

    From Chief Oren Lyons back in 2007. On what is developing.

    The native perspective:

    "Value Change for Survival"

    BAU is over
    Oil is over
    Carbon is over.
    "Earth has no mercy." Only 'laws'; and if one does not abide, then consequences will be suffered.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiRFAvxu3k&t=0s

    ATB and see you in a 'consequential' 2017.

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