In 2007, the Arctic saw its lowest levels of sea ice coverage than any year in recorded history, and trends for 2009 indicate that we may be on our way to a new record low. The low summer coverage follows a winter that saw an unprecedented disappearance of thick, multiyear ice, which is more resistant to melting and forms a platform for the freezing of new ice. The recent release of over 1,000 satellite photos of the Arctic region that the Bush administration had kept classified also reveals an alarming rate of melt; as Josh Rosenau put it on Thoughts from Kansas, "Needless to say, it's a worrying trend."
- Arctic sea ice extent tracking below 2008 on A Few Things Ill Considered
- Bush administration classified photos showing glacier retreat on Thoughts from Kansas
- Sea ice forecasts on Stoat
- Arctic sea ice betting pool at Lounge of the Lab Lemming on All of My Faults are Stress Related
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The good folks at the National Snow and Ice Data Center summarize the season in the Arctic Ocean. Turns out that the weather conditions that helped make 2007 a record for low sea-ice extent didn't recur.
Time to start watching the Arctic Sea Ice breakup. This happens every year, but as you know, the total amount of ice left each summer has been reducing, and the "old ice" which forms a basis for the arctic ice refreeze is disappearing.
"Convection in the Antarctic Ice Sheet Leading to a Surge of the Ice Sheet and Possibly to a New Ice Age" is a 1970's Science paper by Hughes.
What do you think of ice cream? How do you feel when you miss having your very own ice cream sundae? Well, I missed having a sundae today so I am feeling sad!