It seems unthinkable, but for the first time in human history, ice is on course to disappear entirely from the North Pole this year.
The disappearance of the Arctic sea ice, making it possible to reach the Pole sailing in a boat through open water, would be one of the most dramatic – and worrying – examples of the impact of global warming on the planet. Scientists say the ice at 90 degrees north may well have melted away by the summer.
“From the viewpoint of science, the North Pole is just another point on the globe, but symbolically it is hugely important. There is supposed to be ice at the North Pole, not open water,” said Mark Serreze of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado…
“The issue is that, for the first time that I am aware of, the NorthPole is covered with extensive first-year ice – ice that formed last autumn and winter. I’d say it’s even-odds whether the North Pole melts out,” said Dr Serreze.
All’s right with the world. Eh?
China is now the leading emitter in the world.
This is the earth’s attempt to shake us off like so many fleas, on a dog’s backside. But we’re tougher than that.
This is the earth’s attempt to shake us off- like so many fleas on a dog’s backside. But we’re tougher than that.
#61 – MikeN,
China is now the leading emitter in the world.
True. So? Want to help China reduce emissions? Get Americans to change our consumerist ways. What do you think China is doing with all that power? A large part of it is to make shit for us.
Aren’t externalities grand?
We can send all of our manufacturing jobs overseas so our rich can get richer and our middle class can go away. And, at the same time, we can make it look like China is the problem. We can just shove all that CO2 output onto their balance sheet.
Great deal for everyone!! (except those who used to work in manufacturing and now work as french fry clerks, oh well.)
#64 – Misanthropic Scott
Good post. People who are really concerned with C02 emission ought to look at what they’re buying, what it’s made from and where it comes from. But most people just look at the price… and that’s why Mall-Wart is still around.
#48, Alan,
Every time someone talks about “what the scientists think” I wonder if the author knows anything about what science is or how it works?
Most people refer to that as “denial”. Science is NOT picking the parts you like and discarding those you don’t.
(e.g., the view pre-Einstein that physics was a “completed” science with only a few minor gaps to fill in)
A poor, and wrong, argument. One noted person commented that everything to be known in the world of Physics was already known. That was never the view of those who were actually investigating the world. The same person (Lord Kelvin) also predicted radio was doomed to failure and heavier than air flight was impossible. You also forgot that around the same time the head of the US Patent office said that everything had already been invented.
it is a function of the data and of the genuine complexity of the climate, which is as hard to predict as the weather.
You are correct about data being nothing without interpretation. Comparing weather and climate are not comparable as they both require different inputs and give different results. Misanthropic Scott in #50 answers that well with his cholesterol analogy. You may either accept the expert’s interpretation of the evidence or deny it. Your choice.
#53, Chaz,
… ice levels stay steady or increase in Antarctica.
Typically, warming of the climate leads to increased melting rates of sea ice cover and also increased precipitation rates. With increased precipitation rates and consequently deeper snow, the snow load on the Antarctic sea ice becomes heavy enough that it suppresses the ice below sea level. This results in even more and even thicker sea ice when the snow refreezes as more ice.
Quoted from <a href=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050630064726.htmScience Daily from a report by the American Geophysical Union.
heated water doesn’t have to reach the surface, just get close enough.
The problem with words like “close” is they are undefined. In this case the volcanoes and vents are 2 miles below the surface. There are several thermal layers between the floor and the ice that are not allowing this heat to rise. And, scientists have known about these volcanoes for some time.
For a visual of the old ice disappearing from the Arctic between 1981 and 2007 see this.
http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2008/06/20/finnish-finish-global-warming/
save Santa. blame it all on global warming, we were burning hot coals when the ice age happened thats why it melted down, we were also driving cars during the ice age causing it to melt down. so its all our fault. It has nothing to do with earths natural planetary activity.(Some may not understand sarcasm.)Our Lives are lived in a hostile environment we should get used to it, our existence is mere luck along with every other element created in space and time. We are wasting our short lived experience in life debating on philosophies.