US Government tries to silence climate scientist
Jim Hansen, the director of the Nasa Goddard Institute for Space Studies and climate research, has confirmed that the US government has tried to stop him from speaking openly about some of the Institute's latest findings.
14th February 2006
carbon-info.org
Related Stories
How you can help
Mr. Hansen believes that the Bush Government was unhappy about his latest research on the melting of the Greenland ice sheet being made public, as it shows how the melting has more than doubled in the last 5 years.
"We do not have a lot of time left," said Mr. Hansen. "The focus needs to be on curbing rising CO2 emissions and and utilise energy sources that do not burn carbon." The new study confirms that if we within a decade do not get emissions under control, the temperature is likely to rise above 1 degree - by many seen as the point of no return.
The study also found that the Greenland ice sheet is breaking down rapidly, a process known as 'The glacial conveyer'. In simple terms, the ice sheet is breaking up rather than melting. This is what is increasing the rate of melting.
In just 10 years the dumping of ice into the ocean has gone up with nearly 200% from 90 cubic km in 1995 to 224 cubic km in 2006. The rapid dumping and melting of ice is likely to increase sea levels over and above the levels predicted by current climate models. "All the climate models needs updating," said Mr. Hansen.
"We do not have a lot of time left," finished Mr. Hansen.
