Glaciers Around the World

The Distortion

For some strange reasons, one particular argument has gained some currency among the climate change deniers. They flatly assert the completely untrue "fact" that the majority (some say 90%!) of glaciers are growing, not shrinking, and that we only hear about a few that are shrinking.

The Truth

This one is pretty easy to explain. Here’s how: they’re wrong. It’s just a flat-out lie with no basis in fact. Every reputable organization that studies global glaciers all say the same thing: we are losing glaciers steadily. Here’s a chart of cumulative glacier loss in the glaciers (source: National Snow and Ice Data Center):

Specific glaciers aren’t really the point – it’s the global trend that shows a warming climate – but some regional patterns have frightening potential consequences. From the glaciers of Greenland dumping tons of fresh water into the ocean to water shortages from rivers losing their glacier sources, massive changes in the Earth's water flows hold the potential for some of the most devastating effects of climate change.

We need to confront climate change right now, or we will pay a fearsome price later.