TUC RADIO with Chris Rapley and Eric Rignot on the Melting West Antarctic

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Produced by: 
KBOO
Air date: 
Thu, 05/29/2014 - 9:00am to 10:00am
TUC RADIO with Chris Rapley and Eric Rignot on the Melting West Antarctic

Presswatch is off today. We'll hear a two-part program from TUC Radio.

Part One features Chris Rapley, former Director, British Antarctic Survey 


A new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine, presented on May 12, 2014, finds a rapidly melting section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appears to be in an irreversible state of decline, with nothing to stop the glaciers in this area from melting into the sea. 

Professor Chris Rapley, who is famous for his inspired and intelligent descriptions of Antarctica, was the Director of the British Antarctic Survey when I interviewed him in 2005. He had warned of the loss of the West Antarctic glaciers in a 2005 keynote speech and an interview with TUC Radio.
His lucid explanation of the history of exploration and the function of Antarctica and the global circulation of water and his deep understanding of the processes of melting are the perfect introduction to the new findings.

Part Two features Eric Rignot, NASA glaciologist with JPL, Pasadena, and Professor of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine  

The NASA glaciologist Eric Rignot who is also Professor of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine, incorporated four decades of research and, on May 12, 2014, presented results by him and his team that are based on real observations by satellites and field work, not computer models.
 
After the paper on the loss of West Antarctic glaciers was vetted and accepted for publication NASA, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, organized an on-line press conference. In this program you will hear excerpts from the audio with introductions by NASA officials and presentations by scientist, questions from the media and answers. 

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