Ellesmere Island was once bounded by one giant ice shelf that covered almost 10,000 sq km (3,500 sq miles).
Now this expanse of ice has retreated into a string of much smaller, individual shelves, which together cover just under 1,000 sq km (400 sq miles). At 440 sq km (170 sq miles) in size and 40m (130ft) thick, the WHIS is the largest of the remnant shelves. Scientists have been studying the Canadian feature because of what it can tell them about Arctic history.
The Arctic is melting, polar bears are dying, the Antarctic is melting, people are being killed in Tsunami's and ever-more present hurricanes. In response, we give it a few pain killers: a few people drive a little less... or drive more in better cars. People have a lot of 'talks' about renewable energy.
At the same time, the cancer grows. We start drilling offshore and in the Arctic.
Solar power works. Wind power works. There is no reason that we can't treat this cancer with chemo and replace our energy systems. We have no choice. I hear the people making decisions say that "It is too much, too fast. It might hurt business". Friends, there will be no business if we don't change pace immediately.
Further loss of Arctic ice will see radiation absorbed by darker seawater and snow-free land, potentially warming the Earth's climate at an even faster rate than current observational data indicates.
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