Global Warming?

[Troubleshooter]

And we still don't have enough accumulated data to build a good long term trend model.

[Cyclefrance]

So, presumably, as more peripheral ice melts, then the ocean waters rise which means that the highest parts of the cap are lower, so there is more land below 1500 feet above sea level, which in turn then means that the ice build up is less and possibly even negative (i.e the build-up becomes a draw-down...) - is that right?

[barefoot serpent]

Originally Posted by Cyclefrance

So, presumably, as more peripheral ice melts, then the ocean waters rise which means that the highest parts of the cap are lower, so there is more land below 1500 feet above sea level, which in turn then means that the ice build up is less and possibly even negative (i.e the build-up becomes a draw-down...) - is that right?

ummm... maybe, yes... as long as you factor in
eustatic sea-level changes

The deal with global warming is that precipitation patterns can change -- some areas will get more, some less. Some of that will be snow.

One thing that happens is that the melting of ice in the areas below 1500 feet makes more free water vapor available in the atmosphere. This has the paradoxical effect of causing snowfall amounts to be greater. However, the warmer temperatures also mean that the snow is more likely to melt off the next spring. If this pattern continues long enough the glacial ice caps will begin a permanent retreat.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by marichiko

If this pattern continues long enough the glacial ice caps will begin a permanent retreat.

As long as by permanent you mean temporary.

Temporary for the next 10,000 years give or take. When I used the word "permanent" that's what I meant - a few thousand years. I figured I'd get called on it, and, sure enough. Sharp crowd around here. First place honors to Griff!

The earth's climate has always undergone natural oscillations. Man's contribution to these oscillations have made the study of chaos theory a fine art.

[xoxoxoBruce]

From barefoot serpent's link

If the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets were to disappear, cities as far inland as St. Louis (80 m above present sea level) would be inundated, and even decay of the Greenland Ice Sheet alone would drown most coastal cities up to 7 m above modern sea level.

But not to worry, FEMA's on it.