Global Warming Traditional Geocache
Rock Rabbit: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this listing, so I must regretfully archive it. If the cache turns up or is replaced in the future, email me and I will review it for unarchival.
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Published on Friday, December 1, 2006 by the New Zealand Herald
Massive Ice Shelf 'May Collapse without Warning'
The Ross Ice Shelf, a massive piece of ice the size of France,
could break off without warning causing a dramatic rise in sea
levels, warn New Zealand scientists working in Antarctica.
A New Zealand-led ice drilling team has recovered three million
years of climate history from samples which gives clues as to what
may happen in the future.
Initial analysis of sea-floor cores near Scott Base suggest the
Ross Ice Shelf had collapsed in the past and had probably done so
suddenly.
The team's co-chief scientist, Tim Naish, told The Press newspaper
the sediment record was important because it provided crucial
evidence about how the Ross Ice Shelf would react to climate
change, with potential to dramatically increase sea levels.
"If the past is any indication of the future, then the ice shelf
will collapse," he said.
"If the ice shelf goes, then what about the West Antarctic Ice
Sheet? What we've learnt from the Antarctic Peninsula is when once
buttressing ice sheets go, the glaciers feeding them move faster
and that's the thing that isn't so cheery."
Antarctica stores 70 per cent of the world's fresh water, with the
West Antarctic Ice Sheet holding an estimated 30 million cubic
kilometres.
In January, British Antarctic Survey researchers predicted that
its collapse would make sea levels rise by at least 5m, with other
estimates predicting a rise of up to 17m.
Scientists know from the collapse of the Larsen Ice Shelf in 2002
that expanses of ice can collapse "extremely quickly".
"You go from full glacial conditions to open ocean conditions very
abruptly. It doesn't surprise us that much that the transition was
dramatic."
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The actual hiding spot for this cache is approximately 30-35 feet
above the mean high tide level. That's about mid-way between the
high and low estimates of possible sea level rise. Look at the
cache, then look at downtown.
Cache is a small plastic container. You will need to bring your own
pen or pencil, please. No trampling necessary. Cache is, at most,
one step off the trail.
Congratulations to SwanInWa FTF
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)