Glaciers Melting not Growing

Overwhelming pure scientific proof is coming in from all parts of the globe!

The retreat of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaciers"]glaciers[/ame] since 1850 affects the availability of fresh water for irrigation and domestic use, mountain recreation, animals and plants that depend on glacier-melt, and in the longer term, the level of the oceans. Studied by [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaciologist"]glaciologists[/ame], the temporal coincidence of glacier retreat with the measured increase of atmospheric [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas"]greenhouse gases[/ame] is often cited as an evidentiary underpinning of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming"]global warming[/ame]. Mid-latitude mountain ranges such as the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas"]Himalayas[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alps"]Alps[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountains"]Rocky Mountains[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range"]Cascade Range[/ame], and the southern [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes"]Andes[/ame], as well as isolated tropical summits such as [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kilimanjaro"]Mount Kilimanjaro[/ame] in Africa, are showing some of the largest proportionate glacial loss.(IPCC)(Mölg).
The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age"]Little Ice Age[/ame] was a period from about 1550 to 1850 when the world experienced relatively cooler temperatures compared to the present. Subsequently, until about 1940, glaciers around the world retreated as the climate warmed substantially. Glacial retreat slowed and even reversed temporarily, in many cases, between 1950 and 1980 as a slight [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_cooling"]global cooling[/ame] occurred. Since 1980, a significant global warming has led to glacier retreat becoming increasingly rapid and ubiquitous, so much so that some glaciers have disappeared altogether, and the existence of a great number of the remaining glaciers of the world is threatened. In locations such as the Andes of South America and Himalayas in Asia, the demise of glaciers in these regions will have potential impact on water supplies. The retreat of mountain glaciers, notably in western North America, Asia, the Alps, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia"]Indonesia[/ame] and Africa, and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical"]tropical[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical"]subtropical[/ame] regions of South America, has been used to provide qualitative evidence for the rise in global temperatures since the late 19th century.(IPCC2) (NSIDC) The recent substantial retreat and an acceleration of the rate of retreat since 1995 of a number of key [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlet_glacier"]outlet glaciers[/ame] of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_ice_sheet"]Greenland[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Antarctic_Ice_Sheet"]West Antarctic[/ame] [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_sheet"]ice sheets[/ame], may foreshadow a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise"]rise in sea level[/ame], having a potentially dramatic effect on coastal [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions"]regions[/ame] worldwide.

 

Glacial retreat: "With few exceptions, all the alpine glaciers of the world are losing mass and it is predicted that this trend will continue as global warming progresses. Glaciers in alpine areas act as buffers. During the rainy season, water is stored in the glaciers and the melt water helps maintain river systems during dry periods. An estimated 1.5 to 2 billion people in Asia (Himalayan region) and in Europe (The Alps) and the Americas (Andes and Rocky Mountains) depend on river systems with glaciers inside their catchment areas. In areas where the glaciers are melting, river runoff will increase for a period before a sharp decline in runoff. Without the water from mountain glaciers, serious problems are inevitable and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals for fighting poverty and improving access to clean water will be jeopardized" United Nations Environment Programme, 2007 Global Outlook for Ice and Snow.

Glacial retreat since 1850 has been worldwide and rapid, affecting the availability of fresh water for irrigation and domestic use, mountain recreation, animals and plants. These all depend on glacier-melt, and in the longer term and to some extent so does the level of the oceans.
Studied by glaciologists, the coincidence of glacial retreat with the measured increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases is evidence underpinning anthropogenic climate change. Mid-latitude mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, Alps, Rocky Mountains, Cascade Range, and the southern Andes. This is also ocurring in tropical glacier summits such as Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Chacaltaya Glacier in Bolivia which are showing some of the largest proportionate glacial loss.