The Evolution Of Life
"The Great Melt"
Several news articles have caught my attention recently. The first was an article discussing Antarctica as a ‘rising continent’. So much melting has occurred in recent years that has resulted in thinning the ice in its glaciers. This results in less weight on the continent, so it is rising. It seems that sea level rise won’t be a problem there 250 years in the future when the story in my book “”Outbound: Islands in the Void”” describes Konni Bay, Antarctica as a resort town.
However, scientists estimate that should all the ice in antarctica melt, mean sea levels would rise by an astounding 58 meters. Studies have shown that 1/3 of the world’s population lives below 100 vertical meters. Oops.
Another recent news item recounted the collapse of an ice cave in Iceland, killing one tourist. The collapse was likely due to a longer than traditional stretch of warmer than usual weather. Glacial lakes in the mountains of Iceland are expanding as they are collecting more melt in the summer. The recent collapse of an ice dam in Iceland (holding back melt on top of a glacier) caused flooding. Like the Antarctic continent Iceland is also rising, but for a different reason. The island sits across the mid-Atlantic ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are drawing apart. Molten basalt pushes up from the depths below. The island gets larger and taller as a result.
Written By :
Richard Anderson
Post On :
September,11 2024
Tags:
Book, Author, Meta Mars, Outbound, science fiction, space
Geothermal activity heats many warm pools such as the Blue Lagoon. It also generates electricity via steam turbines and heats homes with flowing hot water through pipes under the floors of houses. Attached are pictures of a glacial melt lake, geothermal vents, sharp basalt uplifts along a coast, and the rift created between the 2 separating tectonic plates. My wife Carol and I volunteered a portion of our time holding up a bridge spanning the separation.
