The Mountains Are Growing Taller!
The mountains of the European Alps are growing taller, partly due to global warming. Same thing is happening with the mountains in South America.
How does this happen?
As the climate becomes warmer, the glaciers that sit on top of the mountains melt. Glaciers are of course gigantic blocks of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow. These gigantic blocks of ice are also very heavy. So heavy in fact, that they are preventing the mountains from reaching their optimum height. As a glacier melts, it allows the earth beneath it to gradually spring back to where it would have been if the glacier hadn’t been there.
How Fast Are The Mountains Growing?
The mountains of the French Alps are growing at a rate of .035 inches per year. That works out to be around 1.8 inches taller than they are today.
So, if you’re a mountain climber, get to the French Alps quick - before they grow another inch!
Tags: european alps, french alps, Global Warming, growing mountains
February 8th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Nice site keep it up!
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