Earth’s scars of human destruction (click title to entry - thank you)
By Irene Klotz Irene Klotz – Mon Jul 27, 7:28 am ET
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – A Canadian astronaut aboard the International Space Station said on Sunday it looks like Earth's ice caps have melted a bit since he was last in orbit 12 years ago.
Bob Thirsk, who is two months into a planned six-month stay aboard the station, said he is mostly in awe when he looks out the window, particularly at the sliver of atmosphere wrapped around the planet.
"It's a very thin veil of atmosphere around the Earth that keeps us alive," Thirsk said during an in-flight news conference. "Most of the time when I look out the window I'm in awe. But there are some effects of the human destruction of the Earth as well."
"This is probably just a perception, but I just have the feeling that the glaciers are melting, the snow capping the mountains is less than it was 12 years ago when I saw it last time," Thrisk said. "That saddens me a little bit."...
Astronaut Thrisk is more than qualified to make the observations he has regarding melting ice fields and planet caps. Observation is a scientifically sound method of analysis. If Astronaut Thrisk sees differences in the 'ice' of Earth from 215 miles above Earth the actual deterioration is significant.
Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 1976, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1978, a Doctorate of Medicine from McGill University in 1982, and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1998.
Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W
Local Time: 2:47 PM AKDT (GMT -08)
Elevation :: 33 feet
Temperature :: 63 Fahrenheit
Conditions :: Overcast
Humidity :: 94%
Dew Point :: 61 Fahrenheit
Wind :: 4 mph from the West
Pressure :: 30.41 (steady)
Visibility :: 1.2 miles
UV :: 2 of 16
Clouds :: Scattered Clouds 1100 feet
Mostly Cloudy 6000 feet
Overcast 10,000 feet
(Above ground)
