When precipitation falls on glaciers and doesn’t melt, the glacier grows. That obviously isn’t going to end up in streams anytime soon. When glaciers retreat, more water is melted and it adds to the rivers. That seems pretty basic and obvious. How are retreating glaciers going to reduce the water in Rivers. That would be the case if it didn’t melt and it accumulated water. Do these people not think that the amount of precipitation plus the melt equals the amount in rivers. They seem to have it backwards. I would think they would be more worried about glaciers expanding and the water not making it to the rivers. I must be too dumb to see that 2+2=4.
What unites the treacle highlighted over the past three days in the arrogant, self-important strut of not-very-original people who have been convinced by their leaders that ideological blinders and ignorance of science are in fact deeply penetrating insight.
"...I'll point out that the climate now is different than 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 years ago. Did anybody "prepare for it" then? No, and we all seem to be doing better than ever now as a species."
ReplyDeleteAnthony's comment on man's vulnerability to climate change.
This, while people are wondering whether 2010's global food situation will be as bad as the (high priced food) world food crisis of 2008. He still sees lots of capacity for adaptation.
Non-Malthusians need some solutions to the issues raised in the 'Risk of future famine' section of Wikipedia's "Famine" article. This is all very dark and dreary, but it is where climate disruption takes us. Alternatively, ignorance is bliss.
Genetic modifications of food may be inevitable. But...
In India, genetically modified cotton has been a success for many. But it has also led to the suicides of thousands of farmers. The seeds are expensive. A few dry years can lead to overwhelming debts, and...
"Nearly 60 million people living around the Himalayas will suffer food shortages in the coming decades as glaciers shrink and the water sources for crops dry up..."
"Those (basins) that do count heavily on glaciers like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra basins in South Asia could see their water supplies decline by as much as 19.6% by 2050."
USA Today(June10,2010) about Immerzee(2010)
The press release in WUWT omits two issues that should have been mentioned. To be fair, they are usually overlooked; presumably in order to simplify or generalize the subject.
The first is corrected inartfully in the given quote from the WUWT comments. Short term, any increased melting of the glaciers will increase the river flow, and any resultant flooding. The reduction in river flow will occur in the future, when the glacier is smaller.
The second issue in some areas is the availibility of glacier meltwater for irrigation during a late summer dry period. When it is most needed.
"The reduction in river flow will occur in the future, when the glacier is smaller.
ReplyDeleteThe second issue in some areas is the availibility of glacier meltwater for irrigation during a late summer dry period. When it is most needed."
Exactly. A glacier function to store water and modulate the flow of water, capturing the rains and releasing them gradually.
Watt's has a few more commenters than I do, but mine are clearly, on average, more intelligent. Thanks. ;)
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