A Dream for a Better World

The Larsen B Ice Shelf was a 500 billion ton chunk of ice, 220 meters thick and covering the surface area of 3,250 square km.  Experts predicted that this ice shelf would still be around for the next 100 years, even after factoring in current global warming trends.  However, in 2002, this gigantic block of ice completely disintegrated in 35 days, an astounding event that has never been witnessed or documented before.  This destruction only reinforces the mounting scientific evidences and predictions that other huge ice masses are in line for complete annihilation as well.  In fact, two other even bigger ice masses are exhibiting the same disintegration characteristics as the Larsen B Ice Shelf.  These ice masses are Greenland and the West Antarctic Ice Shelf.  If these two huge ice masses collapse, sea levels could rise as much as 40 ft., devastating as much as 66% of the world’s largest cities lying in low-elevated coastal areas.

It’s quite possible that global warming may cause the new Ice Age.  This paradox can be explained briefly in that the Gulf Stream current and the North Atlantic Drift (both are major warm-water currents in the northern hemisphere in the Atlantic Ocean) heat up the air around them which in turn prevents the temperature from dipping precipitously.  However, with the currents being salt-based and with the rising temperatures causing massive ice melts, the onslaught of fresh water will dilute the salt therefore eliminating the warming effect of the two currents.  Once these currents are shut down, the temperature will drop precariously in the northern hemisphere thus possibly ushering in another Ice Age.