07:58:02 pm, by Bill O'Connor 
, 218 words, 377 views 
According ot a recent study published in the journal Science, the Greenland Ice Sheet is melting much faster than previously estimated. Using data collected by NASA's Grace Satellite, the authors of the study (J. L. Chen, C. R. Wilson, and B. D. Tapley) were able to estimate the changes in mass of ice from the period from April 2002 to November 2005. Their findings show an increase ion the rate of melting in Greeland's ice, which is now currently adding approximately .02 inches per year to the global sea levle rise. Currently Greenland is losing between 52 and 63 cubic miles of ice to melting each year, three times the rate of melting determined in the first yeare of the GRACE mission in 2002. If Greeanland were to lose all of it's ice to melting, it would contribute almost 22 feet to the current sea level globally.
NASA's Grace Satellite mission uses a pair of satellites that measure the gravitational pull of the area they are flying over. the denser the area under the satellite the stronger it's gravitational pull, making the satellite move faster. As the satellite pair moves over different terrains, thedistance between them fluctuates due to the gravitational pull of what is beneath. By measuring the changes in distance between the satellites, data can be extrapolated to show the surface mass change.
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Man's impact on the global climate is the biggest danger that the human race faces today. We as a species have to overcome many preconceived notions to face this dilemma and we should know a few things about our enemy. The climate sees no borders, and does not discriminate based on politcal beliefs, religion, skin color, or sexuality, and will surely affect all of us in ways that we cannot imagine in the years to come.
Thing are happening on this planet right now that have dire consequences of for all humans. Accelerating Polar Ice Melt, the deforestation of the Amazon Basin and other large tropical forests, rising sea surface temperatures, massive coral die-offs, droughts, floods and stronger hurricanes are all interconnected and seem to be spinning out of control. For us to really make a difference in our affect on Global Climate Change, we are all going to have to work together as a species.
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