Climate Trends

25/1/2011

2010 was tied for the warmest year on record with 2005. Also, 2010 was, globally, the wettest year on record.

Observe the series of photos below documenting climate change in the past 80 years. Each of the sets of photos has been taken from the exact same vantage point over many years, documenting the retreat of glaciers.

Global mean temperature is now 1.12 degrees F above the 20th century average.

As these glaciers retreat, sea levels rise at roughly 3mm per year.

At this rate, how long until the Caribbean sea is lapping at the pitch at Cedar School? (Find elevation using Google earth)!

Ice cave on Boulder Glacier: 1932

Where the ice cave and Boulder Glacier used to be. 2004

Carrol Glacier: 1906

Carrol Glacier: 2004

Mccarty Glacier: 1909

Mccarty Glacier: 2004

Muir Glacier: 1942

Muir Glacier: 2004. Look at the ecological succession taking place here.

10 Comments

LeE-LOu

25/1/2011 06:11:05 am

Mr.E I don't get how u do the math?

Lee- Lou

25/1/2011 06:31:42 am

My mom just explained to me:)
I think in about 2333 years the water will be level with the pitch.

Samantha Anderson

26/1/2011 07:14:20 am

I cannot do the working out because i do not and am not aloud to download it on my laptop! :(

samantha

26/1/2011 07:17:56 am

i dont know how to do the math but it is amazing how big the differences are already.

MeG :)

28/1/2011 10:05:46 am

On the basis that google bases its elevations above the lowest astronomically predicted tide which is the standard for chart datum then at 3 mm rise per year I think that it will be 2743 years and 4 months until the water is lapping at the Citco Pitch at CEdar International SChool.

David Carter

28/1/2011 09:55:46 pm

I got the same thing as Meg. But Tortola might be much bigger by that time, people might be living on Mars instead of the caribbean. The world might be completely different by then.

william

31/1/2011 12:14:39 am

i do not have google earth but i figured this:the pitch is about 2 meters above sea, and rising at 3mm/yr, it will take just over 2000 years to reach that height, if it ever happens!

Keir Bibby

31/1/2011 12:20:31 am

I think the sea will probably go over the pitch in about 2000-2100 year from know!!!

Joe

5/3/2011 04:43:48 am

I got 2743 y and 4 m until the water is touching the pich. However, as David said, the worlds environment may have changed, for economical or political reasons, we may well all be living on mars.

Chelsi

15/3/2011 12:05:49 am

How long until the Caribbean sea is at the Cedar pitch:

I got about 2743 years.

Climate Trends

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