Melting Iceshelf Great For Sealilfe

Greenies wail that the fish are dying because of man (natch!) over-fishing the seas.

Warmies groan that the polar and Antarctic ice caps are melting because of man (natch!) pouring gassy stuff into the atmosphere.

Well, it turns out the Greenies should be happy about what the Warmies are groaning about. Maybe they'll fight each other into blessed silence over this:

Icebergs released into Antarctic waters by global [local, really] warming are hotspots for wildlife, researchers have found.

The break-up of Antarctic ice shelves has increased dramatically the number of icebergs and they have proved an unexpectedly rich habitat.

Nutrients released into the water by the melting ice promote the growth of phytoplankton, which attract krill, which are then preyed on by bigger animals such as whales.

Sea areas that would normally be barren – up to two miles (3km) from the icebergs – have become rich in animal life, including a variety of fish.

Among the birds observed by scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, in the US, were Cape petrels and Antarctic fulmars. Penguins, whales and seals are attracted by the krill and fish.

Almost 1,000 icebergs were counted in 4,300 sq miles (11,000 sq km) of the Weddell Sea, and scientists calculated that overall they had increased the “biological productivity” in nearly 40 per cent of the sea.

Life thrives in such quantities around the icebergs studied that the researchers describe them as free-floating estuaries. (Times Online)

Do you think they'll stop their doomsaying for a moment and say instead, "Oh my! God designed this planet with far more complexity than we can ever imagine or predict!" Not a chance.

Do you think we'll hear calls to "Stop Stopping Global Warming!" now? Oh, I doubt it.

hat-tip: Greenie Watch