Climate change could spell significant trouble for East Antarctica’s ice sheet, a new study finds.

According to the research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, strong winds may contribute to enhanced erosion.

“There is enough frozen water sitting on top of the world’s polar continent to raise sea level by dozens of meters and redraw the world map if it melts,” Phys.org notes.

Scientists have traditionally focused more on the status of the West Antarctica ice sheet where large chunks have been melting at alarming rates. The East Antarctic ice sheet is much larger than the West, leading scientists to think it was more stable in recent years as the region has been studied extensively for clues about the pace of global warming’s damage. But East Antarctica appeared to be in good shape, even adding to its mass while the Western ice shelf has been losing significant bulk.

But recently, scientists noticed the presence of a crater located on the King Baudoin ice shelf, which shows the East’s vulnerability to erosion that could spell disaster for the world’s oceans.

“Combining climate models, satellite data and on-site measurements, [the researchers] concluded that strong winds carrying warm air were blowing away reflective snow,” reports Phys.org, “allowing the Sun’s rays to be absorbed into the darker ice rather than bounced back into space.”

With increases in global air temperatures in recent decades (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), warming oceans cause the ice shelves to melt faster than they can replenish ice and snow. And the new research says these erosion estimates may be more significant than previous assessments.

Increased erosion could lead to a significant ice shelf collapse in East Antarctica, causing catastrophic and irreversible damage to the continent. The repercussions could include rising sea levels and temperatures elsewhere on the planet, jeopardizing scores of ecosystems as well as threatening human health and safety.

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Lindsay Lohan drank ayahuasca. Irreversible collapse of Antarctic glaciers has begun. Is this the End Times?

Lindsay Lohan, the actress-turned-public-train-wreck recently revealed that in order to cope with a miscarriage, she drank ayahuasca, the South American tea known for its highly psychoactive effects.

The potent plant mixture is a no-joke concoction high in N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, which is a controlled substance here in the U.S. But in countries including Brazil, Peru and Colombia, it’s a revered shamanic medicine used to heal physical and emotional wounds and deliver spiritual insight.

In the last decade, ayahuasca has catapulted itself to Burning Man status—an indispensable rite of the “conscious community.” Ayahuasca users frequently fit the same stereotype: wide-eyed, lots of hugging, feather earrings, dreadlocks and goatees. But beyond the stereotypes, the medicine has irrefutable effects that when reduced by mainstream media, feels like an insult to the entire rainforest and the millions of healing plants (known and unknown) held within her canopy.

Today Health ran this sensational headline: “What is ayahuasca? Lindsay Lohan’s ‘cleanse’ is probably illegal, causes vomiting.” And it’s true. Sort of. Ayahuasca is illegal (but religious exemptions do allow some use in the U.S.). In my experience, it caused lots of vomiting. But I wouldn’t call it a cleanse—at least not in the sense of a lose-weight-fast gimmick. It is, for lack of a better term, a serious, hardcore spiritual experience. You don’t drink ayahuasca to lose a little weight before heading out to Coachella. And you certainly don’t drink it there to “enhance” your experience. It’s not the Master Cleanse. And it’s not a joint.

Many people think there’s not much to Lindsay Lohan these days besides the spectacle (and “Mean Girls”). But she may just be onto something with ayahausca. If it can belay her self-destructive behavior and heal some of her wounds (celebs cry too, you know), maybe it can also help other people. (That’s not to say you should hop on the next flight to the rainforest.) And now, if we’re not able to stop the impact melting glaciers is sure to have on our planet, perhaps we can at least experience a deeper clarity with the world around us (even if it’s only for a fleeting second before we’re all washed away). Of course, that doesn’t have to come by way of ayahuasca. But for many, it does.

Similar to LiLo’s reports, I also experienced what I can only compare to death while in an ayahuasca ceremony. I had to consciously say goodbye to everyone I loved. I had to let go. I had to accept the end of everything I knew and slip into everything I did not know. It was dark, confusing, and much bigger than the vocabulary describing my human experiences is limited to. It wasn’t scary as much as it was truly new. But that’s not where the real “healing” came from for me—at least, not the healing I can understand.

Shortly before my death-like experience, I saw something that is with me every day still. There, deep in the Colombian rainforest, I could see the forest as if it were inside of a X-ray machine that made everything neon rainbow striped. Colorful lines of energy connected each and every inch of the forest. From the earth up to the tree trunks to the tree leaves to the medicine men who stood guard over our sacred circle, I could see the inter-connectivity of all things. It radiated and pulsed and connected me to it all too. Perhaps this is what Lindsay experienced. Perhaps not. But it is that important reminder now as the media judges and mocks Lindsay, and as we struggle to make sense of what “irreversible collapse” to the Antarctic really means. Because we are connected to these things—in whichever way we choose to see this.

“Researchers had previously estimated that the cluster in the Amundsen Sea region of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would last for thousands of years despite global climate change,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “But the new studies found that the loss is underway now as warming ocean water melts away the base of the ice shelf, and is occurring far more rapidly than scientists expected.” A sea level rise of 4 feet is expected to occur within the next 200 years; and if you think that isn’t going to have a significant impact in the next few years–including the death and displacement of millions of people–you’ve got another thing coming.

I’ve often wondered if the end of humanity will come swiftly once we universally understand our connection to, well, everything. What happens the moment after all religious devotees stop clamoring for the “most true” position amongst the rest of us and simply see that in no way does our connectivity impinge upon our individuality? This “knowledge”—this truly sober moment—may be closer than we think, melting and creeping towards us like Antarctic ice. And it can have only two possible outcomes: 1) It is the End Times. For real. We realize our connection to each and every thing, and then, of course, we become one with it all in eternity, or 2) It’s not the End Times but it’s the end of those times where we saw ourselves as so separate from each other and the earth that we felt it was appropriate to disengage from pressing issues and focus on, well, Lindsay Lohan, instead. But instead of that, we move into a new earth, a new planetary culture that’s not marginalized by TMZ and celeb-bashing. We rise to meet the challenge of rising sea levels and temperatures and make drastic, lasting changes to the ways we live and care for the earth. I know. The End of the World is the likelier scenario, right?

But all most some judgments aside… something’s got to give. We know we can’t continue to bury our head in our iPhones or “Game of Thrones” and pretend that things aren’t changing. We (at least, me) have children to think about. And if they don’t get to grow up in a world with rainforest medicines and Antarctic glaciers, they at least deserve to live in a world where their parents’ generation tried to save those things and make it a better place. Even if we fail. We can say we tried. Looks like even Lindsay’s going that route. Will you?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Image: BeFrank

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A new climate era is here.

If you wanted more proof of climate change (Really? More proof? Really?) then this picture should shut you up for good.

This month, the sea ice around the Arctic shrank to its lowest extent since records began, beating the previous record-breaking minimum (in 2007) by a truly worrying extent.

Every year the ice at the top of our world spreads and withdraws in a largely predictable way according to the seasons and influenced by all sorts of factors including sea currents, wind patterns and, of course, temperature. In 2007 the summertime extent of sea ice reached a new minimum of 4.17 million km². On the 26th of August this year the ice again shrank down to this level – and kept going. On the 16th of September the National Snow & Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado recorded arctic ice coverage at 3.41 million km² – the lowest since records began. (The yellow line denotes the extent of the average minimum over the last 30 years).

It’s difficult to grasp the scale of this but picture about a dozen United Kingdoms lined up side by side: that’s how much more sea ice has vanished beyond the average amount left at the end the summer over the past 30 years.

 – David Shukman, Science Editor, BBC News

So what’s going on here, since Antarctic sea ice levels are remaining relatively stable? Simple – it seems that arctic ice is proving a reliable gauge of the way our planet is warming up, while the Antarctic is proving slower to respond. And what will happen next? Nobody can say for sure, although it seems likely that atmospheric disruptions will follow, along the lines of the jet stream displacement that has been causing unusually poor weather across Northern Europe all summer and gave the UK its wettest June for over a century.  It also seems like that so-called “extreme weather” events become more commonplace.

Our northern ice-cap, a permanent feature for all of human history, could be well on the way to becoming a seasonal feature – and our world is visibly changing. Welcome to a new climate era.

Image: NASA/Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio, via New Scientist.

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Travel is one of the best ways to open your perspective. Seeing and experiencing new places can be a strong catalyst for making us aware and more conscious, but those experiences can also come at an environmental cost.

With a rise in eco-tourism, it’s tempting to think that sustainable travel is easily achievable, but in some places, exploring and voyaging have a higher impact than the supposed benefits. In fact, many organizations around the world are constantly working to develop stricter regulations that will protect local environments, cultures and populations. Thinking about our travel impact is essential.

When it comes down to it, no matter how badly we want to visit, there are some places that we just shouldn’t go, and if we do travel to them we need to be very conscious of our impact. We’ve pulled together a list of places that we hope travelers will pass on, be it for environment, social or cultural reasons. But since we do believe in the power of seeing the world, we’ve also provided some great alternatives.

1. Galapagos Islands

Although a popular destination for seeing biodiversity at its purest, the Galapagos is under threat. In 2007 UNESCO deemed increasing human immigration and uncontrolled development of tourism as threatening the “outstanding value and physical integrity” of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ecuadorian government sees the same problem, and last year raised the entrance fee to the park.

So where to go if you still want to see some of South America’s island biodiversity? The Islas Bellestas. Often called the Galapagos of Peru, Islas Ballestas is a natural reserve comprised of over 700,000 acres. In order to protect the wildlife, visitors are not allowed to land on the island, but you’re sure to spot sea lions, penguins, pelicans and a diverse array of bird species from the comfort of the boat. You’ll have much less of an impact but still get to see some amazing wildlife.

2. Antarctica

A pristine environment threatened by climate change, many travelers are flocking to Antarctica to see the continent up close before it’s too late. But the increase in tourists has not been beneficial for Antarctica. Over 45,000 people visited Antarctica in the s2008, up from 10,000 a decade ago.

An increased number of tourists has meant increased methods of travel, and cruise ships pose a significant concern to the continent and its surroundings. After the MS Explorer cruise ship sank in 2007, leaving a diesel stain five kilometers in diameter, the countries of the Antarctic Treaty came together and decided to limit tourism to the region by controlling the size of cruise ships and the number of tourists taken ashore in order to prevent environmental damage.

If you’re looking for a southern adventure, leave Antarctica to the scientists who are doing ground-breaking research on the continent and opt for a chilly experience with less of an impact instead. How about Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina? You’ll find snowy mountains and icy glaciers as well as plenty of penguins in this beautiful region of Argentina.

3. Angkor

Once the seat of the Khmer Empire, Angkor is a stunning area of ornate temples and structures that is one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia. But such a reputation draws a crowd. Bus loads of tourists fill the area everyday, most opting for a walk around the most well-known of the structures, the Temple of Angkor Wat. Thousands of feet pass across the stone buildings, not always with a delicate impact.

If you do travel to Angkor, make time to see the less visited temples. Exploring the temples in the east and northeast parts of the park will be quieter and more enjoyable; watch the sunrise at Srah Srang and you might be just one of a few tourists. Angkor isn’t the only place for temples in Cambodia. You can also visit Preah Vihear, another UNESCO site but far away from the hustle and bustle of Angkor.

4. Dubai

The epicenter of luxury, development Dubai has turned into an environmental catastrophe and financial boondoggle. Rich investors hoped to build a series of islands shaped like a map of earth. Now a pile of rocks, the area is the world’s most expensive shipping hazard and has been referred to as a “pile of muck.” That’s only the beginning of a long laundry list of environmentally unfriendly aspects of the city, including a proposed three billion square foot “Waterworld” type structure in an area where water scarcity is already a problem, caged endangered species, a refrigerated swimming pool and artificially cooled beach and, of course, the world’s tallest building.

If you’re on the lookout for sand and palm trees with a sane focus, check out Abu Dhabi. The average per capita worth here is around $17 million, but the oil rich locale does have environmental aspirations. The city recently installed 60,000 water saving devices in offices and homes and it’s the host of the World Future Energy Summit, the world’s platform for future sustainable energy developments.

5. Slums

In recent years, slums tourism has become fairly popular. From Kenya to Indonesia, travelers are paying tour operators to take them into impoverished areas, in the hopes of an “authentic” view that might open up their eyes to global inequalities. Going after an authentic experience is great, and it’s important to not turn a blind eye to the economic problems that Westerner-friendly tourism often leaves out. Slum tourism doesn’t have to be slum voyeurism, but make sure that you are doing for the right reasons and that your tour operator is not taking advantage of the local population and culture.

No matter where you go, it’s important to travel with the environment in mind. The Rainforest Alliance has a great list of 10 questions to ask before you book your next trip.

1. What is your environmental policy?
2. What percentage of your employees are local citizens?
3. Do you support any projects to benefit the local community?
4. Do you support conservation? How?
5. Is your business certified?
6. Have you won any eco-awards?
7. Are you recommended by any reputable NGOs or conservation groups?
8. What sorts of policies have you implemented to reduce water consumption, conserve energy or recycle wastes?
9. How do you educate visitors about local natural areas, wildlife, energy conservation, and local culture?
10. How do you monitor these practices?

Happy travels!

Images: pfala, alh1, 23am.com, tyler durden, Britrob, markhillary,

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