Chris Mooney at The Washington Post reports Scientists nearly double sea level rise projections for 2100, because of Antarctica:
Scientists behind a new study published in the journal Nature used sophisticated computer models to decipher a longstanding riddle about how the massive, mostly uninhabited continent surrendered so much ice during previous warm periods on Earth. They found that similar conditions in the future could lead to monumental and irreversible increases in sea levels. If high levels of greenhouse gas emissions continue, they concluded, oceans could rise by close to two meters in total (more than six feet) by the end of the century. The melting of ice on Antarctica alone could cause seas to rise more than 15 meters (49 feet) by 2500.
The startling findings paint a far grimmer picture than current consensus predictions, which have suggested that seas could rise by just under a meter at most by the year 2100. Those estimates relied on the notion that expanding ocean waters and the melting of relatively small glaciers would fuel the majority of sea level rise, rather than the massive ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.
The projection “nearly doubles” prior estimates of sea level rise, which had relied on a “minimal contribution from Antarctica,” said Rob DeConto of University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who authored the study with David Pollard of Penn State University. [...]
Of course, the deniers and delayers will find reasons to object and postpone action on climate change. Greedheads, ignoramuses and cowards all contributing in their own ways to making the situation worse. Unfortunately, “we told you so” won’t be much comfort from rising seas and a hundred other aspects of global warming.
HIGH IMPACT STORIES • TOP COMMENTS
FFS DU JOUR
Officer Kills Navajo woman armed with scissors by shooting her five times
A woman armed with scissors was shot five times and killed by police over the weekend in this small eastern Arizona community, authorities said.
A Winslow police officer responded to a convenience store Sunday on a report of shoplifting and found Loreal Tsingine, a 27-year-old woman who fit the description of the suspect, said Winslow police Lt. Jim Sepi. Tsingine struggled with the officer and threatened with scissors as the officer tried to take her into custody, authorities said. [...]
The shooting comes amid heightened tension around the country with law enforcement over police shootings, including incidents in Cleveland, Chicago and Ferguson, Mo. The Winslow shooting prompted comments from hundreds of people on social media who questioned whether the number of shots was excessive considering the woman was armed with scissors, and others who defended the officer’s actions.
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TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
At Daily Kos on this date in 2009—Reforming the 'Big Three':
While most of the discussion today is about whether the Obama administration made the right or wrong choice by ousting GM's Rick Wagoner and demanding a more comprehensive makeover than GM or Chrysler had provided as part of their deal to get taxpayer assistance, Robert Scott over at the Economic Policy Institute had some things to say about how the Big Three should be investing in America.
While GM, Ford, and Chrysler production in Mexico increased in 2008, it fell in the United States and Canada. GM has invested $3.6 billion in Mexico in the past three years and is increasing its commitment to Mexican production by having its new Aveo subcompact built there instead of in the United States (Black 2008). And the Big Three plan even greater future investments outside of the United States: GM announced plans to invest $1 billion in Brazil (Ortolani 2008), and Chrysler is investing $570 million in a new engine factory near Saltillo in the Mexican state of Coahuila. At the same time, GM and Chrysler are seeking nearly $22 billion in additional restructuring aid from the Obama administration.This, writes Scott, indicates a clear need for the government to make future tax-paid funding for GM and Chrysler dependent on a restructuring that includes an investment here at home instead of sending those production jobs out of the country.
The problem is that administration's Path to Viability for GM and Chrysler that requires aggressive restructuring also may contribute to further pushing the companies to reduce their U.S. manufacturing footprint and increase their outsourcing off-shoring. That would add more losses to the 369,000 jobs already lost in the auto industry and auto parts makers since December 2007. And when recovery does happen, more U.S. auto jobs would be outside the country than ever before.
As Scott says, "This would conflict with the President’s announced 'commitment to support an auto industry that can help revive modern manufacturing.'"
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On today’s Kagro in the Morning show, Greg Dworkin says Trump aides say the man never seriously meant for any of this to work. Joan McCarter hits all the hottest dumpster fires: Trump, SCOTUS, Grassley, ID Gov. Butch Otter’s epic fatalism, basic understanding of & access to contraception, etc.
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