Climate change
Put issue in perspective
Re “Antarctic ice may melt faster than expected,” (Insight, March 31): Climatology is the science of predicting long-term global climate change and its potential consequences. Meteorology is the science of short-term atmospheric phenomena, especially as a means of predicting weather.
Prediction by definition is an estimate which classifies both sciences as inexact. Meteorologists often predict short-term weather conditions inaccurately. Can climatologists accurately predict long-term climate and potential consequences decades in advance?
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue being the Earth’s steward with the best information possible. Yet we should put climatology and meteorology in perspective with regard to their respective accuracy.
John Hightower, Orangevale
Curb emissions or else
Previous researchers have discovered the great ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica may be melting faster than anyone had predicted that could lead to irreversible sea-level increases.
Now there is additional Antarctica research that suggests persistent high emissions of heat-trapping gases could disintegrate these ice sheets within decades.
Absent greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the major coastal cities of the world could be submerged by rising seas.
Harold Ferber, Elk Grove
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This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Climate change."