Melting Point

So, how much evidence is there for melting ice masses?

Masses. (excuse the pun...)

Scientific publications, photos, model outputs, local accounts, historical archives... The list goes on.

Source: NOAA

The figure above shows modelled Northern Hemisphere mean temperature from a variety of different sources over the past 1200 years (adjusted to the same mean 1500-1899). Whilst they differ significantly at times, especially with regard to the magnitude of change, they broadly agree that temperatures are on the rise.

It's important to note that temperature change is much greater in the higher latitudes than the lower ones, which coincides with where most of the globe's ice masses lie...

This increase in temperature is affecting global ice balance in a big way:

 Source: DailyGalaxy

Abram et al. 2013 describe how summer ice on the Antarctic peninsula is melting at a faster rate than at any point in the last 1000 years. This is due to higher proportions of annual snowfall melting before becoming incorporated into the ice pack due to elevated temperatures.

Source: Skeptical Science, Velicogna 2009

The Greenland ice sheet is also experiencing unprecedented levels of melt:

Source: Skeptical Science, Velicogna 2009

Jacobshavn Isbræ glacier retreat, Ilulissat, Western Greenland. Source: Climate4you

My Dad and I at the Jacobshavn Isbræ glacier icefjord, Ilulissat,Western Greenland, 2010.

Fun fact: this is the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, flowing at 20-35m/day. Icebergs up to 1km high calve here! It's also probable that the iceberg that sank the Titanic originated from this glacier - it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It's simply stunning - one of the best natural phenomena I have ever seen (or heard... icebergs explode with echoing booms as pressurised air beneath the surface is released when they calve), and the thought that it's melting and diminishing in size year on year is an upsetting one.

Overall then, there's a plethora of evidence to say that ice; regardless of it's location or type, is melting.