January 31, 2005
Global Warming
If you read the financial press as I do, then you cannot but help notice how cool it is to adopt a sceptical view of global warming. Coolness and scepticism are a part of the street cred of budding go getters in the financial market.
Two images of the same geological site at different points in time, courtesy of David Perleman at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Contrast this one:
The photo shows the calving terminus of Carroll Glacier at the head of Queen Inlet. No vegetation is visible.
Then this 98 years latter:
Bruce Molnia, Carroll Glacier, 2004, U.S. Geological Survey
The 2004 photograph shows that the terminus of Carroll Glacier has changed to a stagnant, debris-covered glacier.
Glaciers throughout Alaska are shrinking more and more rapidly,
U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park, 1941
This shows the glacier 2,000 feet thick. Now look at difference 63 years latter:
Bruce Molnia,Glacier Bay National Park, 2004, U.S. Geological Survey
This shows changes to Riggs Glacier in Muir Inlet and the growth of vegetation.