talk.environment

In article <1189622800.860045.143420@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
Patrick wrote:
>On Sep 12, 8:39 am, b...@radix.net (Robert Grumbine) wrote:
>> In article <1189543460.785668.92...@v29g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
>>
>> Patrick wrote:
>> >Why are scientists now "shocked" by how fast Greenland is dumping ice
>> >into the sea?
>>
>> >They should have foreseen it and said so years ago.
>>
>> >"Retreating Glaciers Spur Alaskan Earthquakes" (Aug 03, 2004)
>> >In a new study, NASA and United States Geological Survey (USGS)
>> >scientists found that retreating glaciers in southern Alaska may be
>> >opening the way for future earthquakes. ...
>>
>> >http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iceage-04f.html
>>
>> >Have the scientists been incompetent, gutless or muzzled?
>>
>> Or have headline writers gone for an extreme headline to catch readers?
>
>Say what?

You seem to be thinking that the scientists really are shocked,
in spite of the observations being several years old. Seems to
me a tenable notion is that the headline writer liked the idea of
saying that the scientists are shocked.


From a vantage of, say, the mid-1990s, it is indeed shocking that
Greenland is melting as fast as it is observed to be. (Do notice
the difference between Greenland and alaska -- different glaciology.)
But starting a few years ago, evidence started coming in on
Greenland. Greenland melting was no surprise.


--
Robert Grumbine http://www.radix.net/~bobg/ Science faqs and amateur activities notes and links.
Sagredo (Galileo Galilei) "You present these recondite matters with too much
evidence and ease; this great facility makes them less appreciated than they
would be had they been presented in a more abstruse manner." Two New Sciences