Uunartoq Qeqertaq (Greenlandic), Warming Island in English, is an island off the east central coast of Greenland, 550 kilometres (342 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. It became recognised as an island only in September 2005, by US explorer Dennis Schmitt. It was attached to the mainland of Liverpool Land by glacial ice even in 2002, when the ice shelves began retreating rapidly in this area, so that by 2005 it was no longer attached to the mainland. Members of the scientific community believe this newly discovered island is a direct result of global warming.[1]
The new strait uncovered by a retreating ice shelf, taken from Warming Island (Uunartoq Qeqertaq) in 2006.
Patrick Michaels, a climatologist and prominent global warming denier, created a controversy over the history of Warming Island in a post on his website, World Climate Report, in which he argued that the island had been previously uncovered in the 1950s toward the end of a brief warm period in Greenland.[2]
Despite a general lack of suitably detailed maps, Michaels found a map published by Ernst Hofer, a photographer who did aerial surveys of the area in the early 1950s, which showed the Warming Island landmass unconnected to Greenland.[3] Michaels concluded therefore that Warming Island was also a separate island when observed by Hofer in the 1950s, and more broadly that Warming Island is an example of unjustified concern about the future outcomes of global warming.[2]
Dennis Schmitt countered Michaels' theory in an article by New York Times reporter Andy Revkin, contending that Hofer's map is inaccurate. Citing discrepancies such as the absence on Hofer's map of nearby Reynolds Island, he suggested that the discrepant features are consistent with an aerial view of the area when covered with fog, which has often obscured low-lying areas like Reynold's Island and the ice-bridge connecting Warming Island to the Greenlandic mainland. He further observed, "I see by the markings of the 1957 document that it is to be construed as indeed only schematic, that it is explicitly incomplete."[4]
Michaels explained that Hofer included the map in his book "so as to place his pictures and stories in context."[2]
No photographic evidence is available that would resolve the issue.
The island was also part of a 2011 controversy when it was included in the Times Atlas of the World, along with a revised depiction of the Greenland ice sheet that showed a 15% reduction. After being alerted through the media, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that the atlas editors must have used a 2001 map showing only the thickest segment of the ice sheet.[5]
A comparison of satellite pictures between 1985 and 2005.
^"Melting glacier uncovers island". Credit: USGS Landsat Project. CNET.com. 2007-04-26. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
^ abc, World Climate Report, archived from the original on 2008-12-12, retrieved 2008-11-03
^World Climate Report reproducing map from Hofer, Ernst, 1957. Arctic Riviera:North-East Greenland, Kümmerly & Frey Berne Geographical Publishers, Berne, Switzerland, Distributed in the U.S. by Rand McNally & Co., Chicago, pp. 125., Berne, Kümmerly & Frey, 1957, OCLC 486572
^Revkin, Andrew C. (2008-04-28), "Arctic explorer rebuts critique of Warming Island", New York Times, retrieved 2010-05-27
^Sara Reardon (2011-09-19). . sciencemag.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
External linksedit
The Independent: An island made by global warming[dead link], 24 April 2007
, comparison of satellite pictures between 1985 and 2005
uunartoq, qeqertaq, greenlandic, warming, island, english, island, east, central, coast, greenland, kilometres, miles, north, arctic, circle, became, recognised, island, only, september, 2005, explorer, dennis, schmitt, attached, mainland, liverpool, land, gla. Uunartoq Qeqertaq Greenlandic Warming Island in English is an island off the east central coast of Greenland 550 kilometres 342 miles north of the Arctic Circle It became recognised as an island only in September 2005 by US explorer Dennis Schmitt It was attached to the mainland of Liverpool Land by glacial ice even in 2002 when the ice shelves began retreating rapidly in this area so that by 2005 it was no longer attached to the mainland Members of the scientific community believe this newly discovered island is a direct result of global warming 1 The new strait uncovered by a retreating ice shelf taken from Warming Island Uunartoq Qeqertaq in 2006 Contents 1 Controversy 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksControversy editPatrick Michaels a climatologist and prominent global warming denier created a controversy over the history of Warming Island in a post on his website World Climate Report in which he argued that the island had been previously uncovered in the 1950s toward the end of a brief warm period in Greenland 2 Despite a general lack of suitably detailed maps Michaels found a map published by Ernst Hofer a photographer who did aerial surveys of the area in the early 1950s which showed the Warming Island landmass unconnected to Greenland 3 Michaels concluded therefore that Warming Island was also a separate island when observed by Hofer in the 1950s and more broadly that Warming Island is an example of unjustified concern about the future outcomes of global warming 2 Dennis Schmitt countered Michaels theory in an article by New York Times reporter Andy Revkin contending that Hofer s map is inaccurate Citing discrepancies such as the absence on Hofer s map of nearby Reynolds Island he suggested that the discrepant features are consistent with an aerial view of the area when covered with fog which has often obscured low lying areas like Reynold s Island and the ice bridge connecting Warming Island to the Greenlandic mainland He further observed I see by the markings of the 1957 document that it is to be construed as indeed only schematic that it is explicitly incomplete 4 Michaels explained that Hofer included the map in his book so as to place his pictures and stories in context 2 No photographic evidence is available that would resolve the issue The island was also part of a 2011 controversy when it was included in the Times Atlas of the World along with a revised depiction of the Greenland ice sheet that showed a 15 reduction After being alerted through the media the U S National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that the atlas editors must have used a 2001 map showing only the thickest segment of the ice sheet 5 nbsp A comparison of satellite pictures between 1985 and 2005 See also editEffects of global warming Physical impacts of climate changeReferences edit Melting glacier uncovers island Credit USGS Landsat Project CNET com 2007 04 26 Archived from the original on 2012 06 29 Retrieved 2007 09 23 a b c Warming Island another global warming myth exposed World Climate Report archived from the original on 2008 12 12 retrieved 2008 11 03 World Climate Report reproducing map from Hofer Ernst 1957 Arctic Riviera North East Greenland Kummerly amp Frey Berne Geographical Publishers Berne Switzerland Distributed in the U S by Rand McNally amp Co Chicago pp 125 Berne Kummerly amp Frey 1957 OCLC 486572 Revkin Andrew C 2008 04 28 Arctic explorer rebuts critique of Warming Island New York Times retrieved 2010 05 27 Sara Reardon 2011 09 19 UPDATED Atlas Shrugged Outraged Glaciologists Say Mappers Misrepresented Greenland Ice Melt sciencemag org Archived from the original on 2012 10 09 Retrieved 2011 09 19 External links editThe Independent An island made by global warming dead link 24 April 2007 USGS Landsat Project Warming Island comparison of satellite pictures between 1985 and 200571 29 N 21 51 W 71 483 N 21 850 W 71 483 21 850 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uunartoq Qeqertaq amp oldid 1158374948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
