A question about glacial melting?

Question

The Columbia ice field has been melting since the last ice age and feeds three rivers, which of course, have been flowing for thousands of years. The claim is that this ice sheet is shrinking at ever increasing speeds, but the rivers aren't getting any larger. Where's all the extra melt water going?
Could it be that the glacier's just melting away at the same rate is has been for the past several millenia?

Answer 1

The glaciers are definitely receding in most places. Rivers can run faster and carry significantly more water without looking terribly diferent.

Here's one website with pictures showing some major recessions. In some cases you flip back and forth by moving the mouse over them. There are many other such pictures on the Web. Google glaciers receding.

http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.html

You can also find pictures showing the major shrinking of the Arctic ice cap, and the Greenland ice fields.

The vast majority of scientists agree. Global warming is real. This is not a drill.

Answer 2

Global warming is at the fore front because politicians found how to use a new platform to get re-elected. The world leadersuse it because they found ways to make money at it. This is a made up problem just like Global Cooling in the 1970's. Wake up people. I agree we need to be more efficient with our resources, and we should fine and jail companies who are dumping into our rivers maliciously. I want to stop the raiforest destruction, but to say that global warming is a serious man made issue and we need to destroy the American economy and bow down to the rest of the world certainly does not float my boat. Follow the money on this one and you will see that it is all for political gain and grant money for those scientists who profit off of the government if global warming stays at the front of the issues. Look deep into the Keoto (sp?) Treaty, first of all they took jets to a non-central resort location. Not very environmentally concious. THen in the parameters of the treaty they have a clause that makes it so you can buy or sell polution credits. This is all about shifting wealth and breaking down the United States. This is painfully obvious, just look at peoples agenda. The earth's mean temperature has risen .6 degrees C in the past 125 years. Greenland's icecaps have gotten colder in the past 10 years. The Scientists who do not gain anything on their posisition will tell you that the earth has a natural progression and this is what we are seeing. The UN report is made up of POLITICIANS not a good spread of scientists. THere are as many or more scientists who believe that man in NOT the reason and it is over hyped, but their voice is not heard in the LIberal Mainstream Media. WAKE UP AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO BE AMERICANS. FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE. STOP THE LIES

Answer 3

You measure how big the ice is, duh. Year to year, it only melted a little...until global warming made it freeze less when it was cold and melt more when it was warm.

The extra water goes down the river. What with flood control measures on many rivers in the world, you don't notice extra water like you might before the whole global warming thing.

Stop trying to think of ways to doubt global warming. It's real, and just because you try to deny it, it's still there. Bad things happen even when people think of stupid ways to deny them.

Answer 4

Yes, you could be quite right in your assumption. People seem to be getting over wrought about the glaciers and things. It has happened before, it will happen again.

Answer 5

be wary of the data they are presenting you. are they giving you data about the glaciers during the summer months and comparing it to data taken during winter months?

Answer 6

it is increasing the sea level 2.4 to 4 mm / year!
No it is faster now!
so it is very danger situation now!
for more by mail pls!

Answer 7

It must be going somewhere, better check yer source.