Greenland Melting Faster Than Previously Thought

Ice sheet could cause 23-foot rise in sea levels within hundreds of years, not thousands Science is an inherently conservative enterprise, and it appears yet another fundamental facet of global warming prediction could0 prove scientists wrong -- because their predictions weren't aggressive enough. The collapse of the Greenland ice sheet, a massive expanse of ice, could cause sea levels worldwide to rise about 23 feet. Recent evidence shows that it's disintegrating faster than previously thought, which means that the latest United Nations report on climate change -- released earlier this year -- did not consider the most recent evidence. When it comes to melting ice, the concern is not just sea level rise, but positive feedback. As ice melts, white snow and ice is replaced by darker water, which absorbs more of the sun's heat than it reflects. That causes more warming, which causes more ice to melt, and the cycle supports itself. Related Stories And Blog Posts 1 Of 3 Ain't Bad: Ice Sheet Stable Melting Ice Caps Slow Global Warming Snowless Kilimanjaro Should Not Be Fodder For Climate Skeptics World's Largest Lake Drying Up Oil Rush At World's End