Since 1979, the volume of Summer Arctic Sea Ice has declined by 80% and is accelerating. The first ice-free summer in the Arctic Ocean is expected to happen between 2016 and 2022. This latest video by Andy Lee Robinson illustrates the dramatic decline since 1979 until the end of 2012.
We need to get off fossil fuels fast and move to next generation nuclear to be able to sustain our energy needs. Throw in solar and wind research too. And we need to do all of this fast.
9 Comments
Good graphic of the seasonal
Submitted by Jim Simpson on
Good graphic of the seasonal movements of Arctic sea ice. However, for a more balanced perspective I would be interested in sighting a matching graphic from Andy Lee Robinson of the Antarctic ice conditions over the same period ?
Unfortunately even if the
Submitted by iraszl on
Unfortunately even if the Antarctic balances out the ice mass it still means massive changes in weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. The gulf stream would stop which could mean drastically colder winters and much hotter summers.
Yes indeed, the Arctic is
Submitted by AlexC on
Yes indeed, the Arctic is exceedingly important to all N. countries, especially Euro...see...
IEEE Spectrum, Feb 20`3m "Laser Eyes Spy a Big Melt in the Arctic".
The Economist, 9 Feb 2013, "Tequila Sunset"
AAAS Science, 25 Jan 2013, "Warming Climate Exposes Resources -- and Risks -- in the Far North"
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Reading between the lines
Submitted by Jim Simpson on
Reading between the lines (Comments above), it seems there's been an increase in Antarctic ice levels coincidentally with a decrease in Arctic sea ice - yes?. A not unlikely outcome in view of the Earth's natural spin (cycle) around the Sun ie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82p-DYgGFjI&nofeather=True that would explain (IMHO) the increase/decrease of ice at either Pole relative to the position of the sun.
The only way to sensibly
Submitted by AlexC on
The only way to sensibly understand the many interacting mechanisms of earth, ice, oceans... is to read the results of the latest studies.
Adding snow to one side of Antarctica, while losing some sea ice to warmer waters can be easily consistent, since warming seas increases atmospheric water vapor, thus increasing precipitation in various regions. And, increasing precipitation in one region can reduce it in others, so taking only a few observations into account is a prescription for making bad decisions.
So am I to conclude that you
Submitted by Jim Simpson on
So am I to conclude that you (AlexC) don't believe the seasonal, cyclic movement of the Earth around the sun has any bearing/impact upon the level of cold (ice) at either end of the Poles?
Why would anyone conclude
Submitted by AlexC on
Why would anyone conclude that, Jim?
After all, we have our Summer when we're farthest from the sun and Winter when closest. Do you think that one parameter should define all effects?
What's you point?
Guess I'm missing something
Submitted by Jim Simpson on
Guess I'm missing something here - I thought Summer occurred when the sun was closest to either hemisphere, not furthest..
My point simply being that the Sun is the primary driver of Earth's climate. That there may indeed be other influences from time to time, I don't doubt. It is after all a chaotic system.
Ok Jim, so now we know you
Submitted by AlexC on
Ok Jim, so now we know you don't know enough about our planent and its star! But you can drop terms like "chaotic"..
How about taking some time to study Earth's orbit -- eccentricity, nutation, Milankovitch Cycles... And study the solar-activity cycles, like the 11-year sunspot cycle, the ~90-year activity cycle, pole reversals, etc?
Then you might appreciate why we above the Equator have Summer when farthest from the Sun, but when tilted most toward the Sun.