The impacts of climate change, like sea level rise or the shrinkage of a major glacier, are generally measured over decades, not months as in this case. “It’s not something you could see if you were just standing on the beach for a couple of months,” Professor Shugar said. “We may be surprised by what climate change has in store for us — and some of the effects might be much more rapid than we are expecting.”Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Sign Up Receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. The Nature Geoscience paper is accompanied by an essay from Rachel M. Headley, an assistant professor of geoscience and glacier expert at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Source: New York Times April 17, 2017 15:00 UTC