
The new Jan/Feb issue of mental_floss magazine is just about to hit newsstands, and we’re eager to give you a glimpse of some of the great content! Today’s snippet is from our article on 5 Things Benefiting from Global Warming. A few things are are actually reaping rewards from this hot mess. Here’s one of the strangest:

Although climate change is forcing glaciers to recede, mountains are getting taller. As the water stored in glaciers drains away, the mountains underneath them have less of a load to carry and can rise to their full heights. In the Western arm of the Alps, for instance, mountains are growing at a rate of .035 inches per year. That’s good news for skiers, climbers, and large hills with a Napoleon complexes.
Of course, that just scratches the surface. To see why things like satellites and jellyfish are doing so much better as a result of global warming, be sure to check out the article on newsstands. Better yet, pair the subscription with a brand new mental_floss T-shirt and save yourself some money! Click here for details.
Hello, Tetons!
posted by swss on 12-13-2009 at 11:06 pm
One benefit of global warming is that it gives us a historical glimpse of what it was like for those living in the medieval ages about 700 years ago. Even though it was warmer at that point than now, our current temperatures still give us a reasonable clue about the warmth in the days of the serfs.
posted by Peter on 12-14-2009 at 5:03 am
Have these mountains never grown .035 inches per year in the past?
posted by graham on 12-14-2009 at 8:36 am
I’m thinking Canada and Russia will make out quite nicely once it warms up.
posted by Jim K on 12-14-2009 at 2:24 pm