A new study, conducted by Ian Howat, a scientist with the University of Colorado's National Snow and Ice Data Center and also with the University of Washington's Applied Physics Lab, has revealed that two of Greenland's biggest glaciers have been melting at inconsistent rates. Most importantly, not at an increased rate as has been incorrectly stated by several news reporters and politicians.

Professor Howat has discovered that the glaciers shrank rapidly (dumping huge amounts of ice into the sea during a period of less than a year between 2004 and 2005). However, two years later, they returned to near their previous rates of melt and discharge. Bottom line: short term observations do not yield long term predictions - and that glaciers may melt then rebuild in a variable manner. The research is online in the journal Science Express.

Click HERE for the ORIGINAL story