Arctic sea ice hits record low

[summer]

I'm too scared to watch the video.

www.aljazeera.com/video/europe/2012/08/2012827185856877999.html

The world's Arctic ice cap has shrunk to a new low, surpassing a record set only five years ago, and is expected to keep retreating for a few more weeks, according to US data research.

Arctic sea ice fell to 4.10 million sq km, about 70,000sq km less than the earlier record charted in 2007, the lowest since satellites began measuring the ice in 1979, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

"It's a little surprising to see the 2012 Arctic sea ice extent in August dip below the record low 2007 sea ice extent in September," Walt Meier, a scientist with the data centre, said.

"It's likely we are going to surpass the record decline by a fair amount this year by the time all is said and done," he said.

The ice is expected to dwindle until mid- to late-September when the summer melting usually ends, according to the centre.

Shrinking of the Arctic ices alarms scientists and environmentalists because the Arctic acts as the world's air conditioner, helping to moderate the globe's climate.
ARCTIC DISPATCHES

Al Jazeera's Nick Clark reports on the effect of global warming on the Arctic:

On the frontlines
Isolated communities
Mystery tents and dog sleds
Passports and icebergs
Arriving safely in Grise Fiord

As parts of the Arctic melted, this year has been marked by record heat in much of the Northern Hemisphere, especially across the continental US which has been ravaged by drought.

Most scientists blame global warming for the retreat of the Arctic ice, and there is concern that the growing amounts of open water means the Arctic will not be as effective moderating the planet's climate.

"These preliminary figures provide irrefutable evidence that greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming are damaging one of the planet's critical environments, one that helps maintain the stability of the global climate for every citizen of the world," Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace, said.

Meier said that the record was on one level "just a number, and occasionally records are going to get set".

"But in the context of what's happened in the last several years and throughout the satellite record, it's an indication that the Arctic sea ice cover is fundamentally changing," he said.

The planet has charted a number of record temperatures in recent years, with 13 of the warmest years ever taking place in the past decade and a half.

Scientists say that climate change is largely caused by human emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases, which hinder the planet's reflection of the sun's heat back into space.

The melting of Arctic has helped open up new shipping lanes, but is also believed to hold serious consequences for the rest of the planet considering the vital function served by the ice ion in keeping the planet cool.

[aurora]

Well, that's unfortunate, but at least we can be certain that it's not because of anthropogenic climate change since that is a fiction made up by scientists wanting to finance their research labs.

[ttt]

Nothing to see here, folks! Move along!

[dev22]

So, when the coasts are covered by water, who in the middle of the country is going to take us all in?

Bonus: People in AZ may soon have ocean front views! That will help property values.

[pixy0stix]

Coastal ladies can come to CO! Although, we're semi-arid moving to a desert climate, so you might have to bring your own water.

[summer]

Aug 30, 2012 14:41:08 GMT -5 dev22 said:

So, when the coasts are covered by water, who in the middle of the country is going to take us all in?

Um, no one. Every man for himself!

[smock]

I hope my gills develop fast enough once the new Waterworld starts.

[summer]

And you know us black folks need to get our swimming skills up to speed.

[dev22]

Aug 30, 2012 14:44:10 GMT -5 summer said:

Aug 30, 2012 14:41:08 GMT -5 dev22 said:

So, when the coasts are covered by water, who in the middle of the country is going to take us all in?

Um, no one. Every man for himself!

What is the waterworld equivilent to bootstraps?

[shadow]

No need to worry guys.

1) It's Al Jazeera. What do these terrorists know about ice caps, from their bunkers in the desert mountains? They're just part of a communist conspiracy to re-elect Obama so that America will get worser.

2) Of course they're melting in the summer; they'll refreeze in the winter, mkay?

3) This is all just a part of changes we've seen throughout the earth's 6,000 years of existence. Of course it's record breaking b/c they only started measuring in '79. This is just a natural ebb and flow of nature.

4)If the world's air conditioner goes on the fritz, all we need is the free market to come in w/ its invisible hand filled with competing HVAC companies to give us better service.

YWIA

[summer]

Aug 30, 2012 15:22:27 GMT -5 shadow said:

No need to worry guys.

1) It's Al Jazeera. What do these terrorists know about ice caps, from their bunkers in the desert mountains? They're just part of a communist conspiracy to re-elect Obama so that America will get worser.

2) Of course they're melting in the summer; they'll refreeze in the winter, mkay?

3) This is all just a part of changes we've seen throughout the earth's 6,000 years of existence. Of course it's record breaking b/c they only started measuring in '79. This is just a natural ebb and flow of nature.

4)If the world's air conditioner goes on the fritz, all we need is the free market to come in w/ its invisible hand filled with competing HVAC companies to give us better service.

YWIA

You obviously missed yesterday's discussion on how to be more welcoming to other points of view. Get to reading, missy!

[shadow]

Aug 30, 2012 15:26:25 GMT -5 summer said:

Aug 30, 2012 15:22:27 GMT -5 shadow said:

No need to worry guys.

1) It's Al Jazeera. What do these terrorists know about ice caps, from their bunkers in the desert mountains? They're just part of a communist conspiracy to re-elect Obama so that America will get worser.

2) Of course they're melting in the summer; they'll refreeze in the winter, mkay?

3) This is all just a part of changes we've seen throughout the earth's 6,000 years of existence. Of course it's record breaking b/c they only started measuring in '79. This is just a natural ebb and flow of nature.

4)If the world's air conditioner goes on the fritz, all we need is the free market to come in w/ its invisible hand filled with competing HVAC companies to give us better service.

YWIA

You obviously missed yesterday's discussion on how to be more welcoming to other points of view. Get to reading, missy!

Uhoh, was that in the monster 15 pager that I am avoiding like the plague?

[marie427]

Aug 30, 2012 6:04:42 GMT -5 summer said:

The melting of Arctic has helped open up new shipping lanes, but is also believed to hold serious consequences for the rest of the planet considering the vital function served by the ice ion in keeping the planet cool.

Gee, that's swell. Now every summer from now on is just going to get hotter and hotter. :-(

Forget the Midwest, I'm moving to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. It's the coldest capital city in the world and very much inland.

[basilosaurus]

Don't mention this in NC. It's illegal to refer to rising sea levels.

[aurora]

Aug 30, 2012 18:23:25 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Don't mention this in NC. It's illegal to refer to rising sea levels.

And definitely illegal to make policy decisions that don't assume everything will be as it always was!

[teflep]

Aug 30, 2012 15:19:41 GMT -5 dev22 said:

Aug 30, 2012 14:44:10 GMT -5 summer said:

Um, no one. Every man for himself!

What is the waterworld equivilent to bootstraps?

Kevin costners plugs?