Record heat leads to major flooding in Greenland

[phantom power]

The record heat has triggered significant melting of Greenland's Ice Sheet. According to the Arctic Sea Ice Blog, on July 11, glacier melt water from the Russell Glacier flooded the Watson River, smashing two bridges connecting the north and south of Kangerlussuaq (Sønder Strømfjord), a small settlement in southwestern Greenland. The flow rate of 3.5 million liters/sec was almost double the previous record flow rate.The latest forecast for Summit calls for cooler conditions over the coming week, with no more above-freezing temperatures at Summit.
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2156

Video 1. A 20-ton tractor attempting to repair a bridge washed out by the raging Watson River on July 11, 2012 in Kangerlussauaq, Greenland gets washed downstream. The driver escaped unharmed. Image taken from an article, Warm air over the ice sheet provides great drama in Greenland, at the Danish Meteorological Institute's web site.

[longship]

1. If humankind doesn't do something about this, we're screwn

Climate change denial is one of the most insidious Republican planks. It has profound repercussions not just for women, not just for poor people, not just for the middle class, not just for US citizens, but for everybody.

Greenland is a bellwether for what's happening globally. We can see here what doing nothing will get us.

PBS Nova had an episode that featured James Balog where he showed what is happening there. Extreme Ice. Every time I have watched this it gives me the willies. It's simultaneously beautiful and, dare I say, chilling.

Highly recommended.

Also, check out Balog's TED talk at Ted.com.