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posted by on Sunday July 19 2015, @02:30PM   Printer-friendly
from the top-spinning-down-on-a-table dept.

Australian Broadcasting Corp reports:

From 1982 to 2005, we measured the location of the North Pole as drifting slowly southwards towards Labrador around six to seven centimetres each year.

But in 2005, the North Pole suddenly, and without any warning, did two new things. First, it chucked a leftie and started heading east, parallel to the Equator. Second, the North Pole more than tripled its speed to about 24-or-so centimetres per year.

Plain and simple, rapid melting of ice on land has driven Earth's North Pole to the east. This solid ice used to be on land, but is now liquid water spread everywhere across the planet.

We've been measuring this change to the land ice with satellites beginning in the early 1990s, right up to our current CryoSat-2, which was launched in 2010. Over the decades, the satellites have taken many tens of millions of height measurements. The most recent analysis tells us that between 2011 and 2014, Greenland and Antarctica between them were losing about 500 billion tonnes of land ice per year — about three-quarters of it from Greenland. This was an increase of two-to-three times over the previous loss rate as measured between 2003 and 2009.


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  • (Score: 0, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 19 2015, @02:33PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 19 2015, @02:33PM (#211064) Homepage Journal

    Next up, we'll see people blaming global warming for some unexpected details in the orbits of the outer planets. And, sunspot activity will be blamed on global warming. When does the insanity end? The earth is getting warmer, so ANY unexpected phenomenon are blamed on global warming?

    We're fucked, people. This new religion just won't go away.

    --
    Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   -1  
       Flamebait=2, Troll=6, Insightful=7, Informative=1, Funny=1, Overrated=3, Underrated=1, Disagree=3, Total=24
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   0  
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Gravis on Sunday July 19 2015, @02:48PM

    by Gravis (4596) on Sunday July 19 2015, @02:48PM (#211070)

    what has fucked us is people who deny climate change and those who refuse change due to it because that is exactly how we got in this mess.

    • (Score: 1, Offtopic) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:19PM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:19PM (#211078) Homepage Journal

      Wrll, Gravis, I've not said anything here about whether I believe in man-made global warming. I am stating, however, that the temperature of the planet's surface probably has zero influence over the magnetic properties of the earth's iron core.

      We DO all understand that the earth's core is molten iron, do we not? Let us suppose, just for the sake of argument, that this global warming thing has penetrated all the way to the core of the planet. Does ANYONE really think that changing the temperature of that core by a degree or ten is going to change it's magnetic properties? Really? Anyone? Can anyone reference any studies in which a minor temperature change has affected the properties of magnetism? We're not talking about hundreds of degrees here, or thousands. One to ten degrees difference is all we're looking for.

      Let em state bluntly - anyone who has even the slightest bit of education in the physical sciences who believes this nonsense has his head so far up his ass that his shoulders are chafing against his pelvis. There's no hope for some people, they apparently LIKE the atmosphere found inside of an anus!

      Some real facts, which are easily verifiable via Google search:

      The earth's magnetic north pole has shifted, almost continuously since mankind discovered magnetism. Magnetic north doesn't even stay constant from one place to another on the earth. Sailors have charts that display the variations in magnetic north, it's so well established that "north" is not always really north. The shift in the magnetic poles is NOT entirely constant and predictable - never has been, never will me. At least it won't be predicatable until the earth has cooled sufficiently to allow the iron to harden into a solid.

      http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/declination.shtml [noaa.gov]

      So, some dimwit or another has "discovered" that the normal movement of magnetic north doesn't match his predictions. I have to wonder whether he even knows about magnetic variation. I have to wonder how sensitive his instruments are. I have to wonder how ACCURATE his instruments are. I have to woder about his competence to use these instruments. I have to wonder about his freaking INTELLIGENCE!

      Bottom line: If global warming were ten times as bad as the gloomiest predicitons, it still wouldn't affect the earth's magnetic north pole, or influence it's travels.

      "But in 2005, the North Pole suddenly, and without any warning, did two new things. First, it chucked a leftie and started heading east,"

      Chucked a leftie? WTF? Maybe the magnetic pole UPCHUCKED after swallowing a leftie.

      --
      Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
      • (Score: 5, Informative) by BK on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:39PM

        by BK (4868) on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:39PM (#211086)

        Just to point out, this is about the physical rotational axis, not magnetic north.

        I love that they point out that the axis had been shifting southwards before. It seems to me that any such shift is always southwards. Duh. It was shifting south and is now shifting south. But it's still north.

        Wherever you go, there you are.

        --
        ...but you HAVE heard of me.
        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:07PM

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:07PM (#211102) Homepage Journal

          LOL, I hadn't thought of that. At some point in my history, I've established the difference between true north and magnetic north. Ever since then, I've automatically pictured the movement of magnetic north in relation to true north. So - I went along with the idea that magnetic north was now moving eastwards. Thanks for the kick in the butt - now I can see that the North Pole is actually moving southwards, just as it always has done!

          --
          Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
        • (Score: 2, Informative) by TheSuperFriend on Sunday July 19 2015, @05:18PM

          by TheSuperFriend (5663) on Sunday July 19 2015, @05:18PM (#211127)

          But it's still north.

          Okay, so the more accurate way to report the story would be to refer to the change in the axial tilt.

          Although "north" is always "north", I can promise you that if either pole was pointed at the sun you'd notice an increase in your heating/cooling expenses.

        • (Score: 2) by darkfeline on Sunday July 19 2015, @10:05PM

          by darkfeline (1030) on Sunday July 19 2015, @10:05PM (#211180) Homepage

          "True north" is north on a map. That doesn't change. Axial north and magnetic north change all the time, but they have traditionally been very close to true north, although all that drift is adding up.

          --
          Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @08:50PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @08:50PM (#211172)

      Says the guy with 6 kids.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @01:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @01:54PM (#211416)

      what has fucked us up is retard progressives that want other people to pay for their unsubstantiated scams, whilst being the hypocrites that they are by using their technology that causes more global warming than 90% of the rest of earth's population

      it's fine to believe in a cause, but realize that even though you may think its important, others aren't convinced and they are entitled to their own views. if you want to change the world, pay for it yourself. don't be the filthy bullying scabs that you are by trying to force taxpayers to bankroll your own feelgood campaigns

      you're welcome to make a convincing argument, but marginalizing those who disagree with you merely because they disagree is fucking stupid. get over yourself

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by BK on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:33PM

    by BK (4868) on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:33PM (#211082)

    Another climate story, another screwed up moderation tree. Parent's moderation has changed from insightful to troll 2x in the past 10 minutes. "Disagree" clearly isn't enough for some people here.

    Is moderating as troll the comments we disagree with acceptable now?

    I do understand that it's important to let people on the internet know that they are WRONG, but is this the SN way to do it?

    --
    ...but you HAVE heard of me.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:42PM

      by maxwell demon (1608) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:42PM (#211087) Journal

      Well, that post is polemic (at least I cannot imagine that he really expects someone blaming anomalies of outer planets' orbits to global warming). I wouldn't moderate it as troll, but I can see why some would.

      What the post certainly isn't, is insightful. Which also doesn't mean and shouldn't be used for "I agree".

      --
      The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
      • (Score: 2) by BK on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:47PM

        by BK (4868) on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:47PM (#211089)

        Interesting could work here. Or, and this is always the hardest, no moderation at all.

        A score of 2 or 3 is just about right here imo. Unless you have an axe to grind.

        --
        ...but you HAVE heard of me.
        • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:14PM

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:14PM (#211107) Homepage Journal

          HA! You're obviously smarter than the average Soylentil. "no moderation at all". Just like everyone else here, I get a steady diet of mod points. I can't remember the last time I used up my day's supply. When I see a really good comment, I hit it with an insightful, or interesting, or informative. I just skim over most bad posts. And, of course, average posts require no moderation.

          I think some poeple feel obligated to use all their mod points, every day. Which is akin to a local cop feeling obligated to use up his ammunition every day.

          Heck, I don't even use the "agree" or "disagree" mods. I'd rather make a post, and state how and why I agree. That seems a lot more fun to me! Why waste a mod point to agree with someone, when I can tell them?

          --
          Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @01:40PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @01:40PM (#211407)

            There is an "Agree" mod option? I've never seen that. Only "Disagree".

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @07:42PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @07:42PM (#211160)

      to let people on the internet know that they are WRONG, but is this the SN way to do it?

      Seems like it worked this time. And proved once again that climate-deniers are just knee-jerk stupid. What more do you want?

    • (Score: 4, Informative) by penguinoid on Monday July 20 2015, @06:57AM

      by penguinoid (5331) on Monday July 20 2015, @06:57AM (#211316)

      You're complaining that someone who first-posted with obviously false information on a controversial topic, while calling his opponents religiously insane, got modded troll? Read down the thread, he has badly confused the (clearly measurable) location of the axial north pole, which would shift due to the (necessary) law of conservation of momentum because of the melting of the (measurable) icecaps -- with his own invented lala land where the topic is Earth's magnetic north pole.

      --
      RIP Slashdot. Killed by greedy bastards.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Nobuddy on Monday July 20 2015, @02:33PM

      by Nobuddy (1626) on Monday July 20 2015, @02:33PM (#211434)

      Its not a matter of disagree. he's absolutely and completely wrong (assumes magnetic north not axial tilt), goes off on a rant based on his wrong perception. Troll is the closest option to this nut.

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:56PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @04:56PM (#211118)

    Its called science.

    If you are confused by how a shift in the mass of the planet can affect the location of magnetic pole, rather than denying, out of hand, the work of the geologists and physicists, you should do a little research and educate yourself.

    This is exactly what separates science from religion. You are the one demonstrating a religious view-- unyielding to evidence, and without need for research and education.

    Apropos quote, "Education is the enemy of religion," Pope Leo XIII.

  • (Score: 0, Troll) by tftp on Sunday July 19 2015, @06:08PM

    by tftp (806) on Sunday July 19 2015, @06:08PM (#211141) Homepage

    We're fucked, people. This new religion just won't go away.

    Just like in good old days of Spanish Inquisition, the new religion burns "deniers" at the stake.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @06:39PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2015, @06:39PM (#211146)

    Use your brain and think about what happens when a ball covered with water and ice on top spins. Now what happens when that ice hat is not attached to the ball but floating on it. It will never stay in the middle. It will sway to the side and offset the balance of the spinning ball.
    Go buy a gyroscope and play with it. Learn to think before opening your mouth.

    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 20 2015, @05:24AM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 20 2015, @05:24AM (#211294) Homepage Journal

      "Go buy a gyroscope and play with it"

      Done.

      http://www.cmsnl.com/img/community/vehicles/7/79/791/79177/200912300116580.KZ750%20029.jpg [cmsnl.com]

      Fact is, I can balance multiple gyroscopes, keeping them in harmony. It's an art. Different models have varying numbers of gyroscopes, but three is the minimum, four is most common, and five or six aren't uncommon.

      --
      Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @02:01PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @02:01PM (#211419)

      Now what happens when that asshat is not attached to the ball but floating on it. It will never stay in the middle. It will sway to the side

      ftfy

  • (Score: 2) by Nobuddy on Monday July 20 2015, @02:29PM

    by Nobuddy (1626) on Monday July 20 2015, @02:29PM (#211433)

    Its a shame that so many people listen to what 99% of the scientific world says instead of crackpots like you. The world would be such a better place with the return of acid rain and black lung.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 20 2015, @05:54PM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 20 2015, @05:54PM (#211487) Homepage Journal

      whoa - wait a second. I missed that 99% of the scientific world had verified that the movement of the norht pole(s) had radically changed DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING. You have exactly one crackpot publishing a paper online here. The link doesn't even go to a peer reviewed paper, just some crackpot's blog and news article.

      --
      Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.