Half of the polar ice cap is missing: Arctic sea ice hits a new record low

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Extraordinary melting of sea ice in the Arctic this summer has shattered the all-time low sea ice extent record set in September 2007, and sea ice continues to decline far below what has ever been observed. The new sea ice record was set on August 26, a full three weeks before the usual end of the melting season, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Every major scientific institution that tracks Arctic sea ice agrees that new records for low ice area, extent, and volume have been set. These organizations include the University of Washington Polar Science Center (a new record for low ice volume), the Nansen Environmental & Remote Sensing Center in Norway, and the University of Illinois Cryosphere Today. A comprehensive collection of sea ice graphs shows the full story. Satellite records of sea ice extent date back to 1979, though a 2011 study by Kinnard et al. shows that the Arctic hasn't seen a melt like this for at least 1,450 years (see a more detailed article on this over at skepticalscience.com.) The latest September 5, 2012 extent of 3.5 million square kilometers is approximately a 50% reduction in the area of Arctic covered by sea ice, compared to the average from 1979 - 2000. The ice continues to melt, and has not reached the low for this year yet.

Why the Arctic sea ice is important Arctic sea ice is an important component of the global climate system. The polar ice caps help to regulate global temperature by reflecting sunlight back into space. White snow and ice at the poles reflects sunlight, but dark ocean absorbs it. Replacing bright sea ice with dark ocean is a recipe for more and faster global warming. The Autumn air temperature over the Arctic has increased by 4 - 6°F in the past decade, and we could already be seeing the impacts of this warming in the mid-latitudes, by an increase in extreme weather events. Another non-trivial impact of the absence of sea ice is increased melting in Greenland. We already saw an unprecedented melting event in Greenland this year, and as warming continues, the likelihood of these events increase.

http://www.wundergro...l?entrynum=2222

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Very sad.

Too bad people will shrug it off as normal. Nothing to see here!

Edited September 7, 2012 by Evylin

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yep, nothing to see. Move along.

[mawilson 2,133]

Very sad.

Too bad people will shrug it off as normal. Nothing to see here!

What's there to say? It's real, it can't be stopped. Adapt or die.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Excellent! Finally, after centuries of waiting, the Northwest Passage is soon to be a reality.

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Excellent! Finally, after centuries of waiting, the Northwest Passage is soon to be a reality.

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

Yes, and my home will be beachfront property.

[Ban Hammer 13,408]

Yes, and my home will be beachfront property.

or really underwater.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

or really underwater.

In that case, I won't feel bad about walking away from it. Or rather swimming away.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

What's there to say? It's real, it can't be stopped. Adapt or die.

[Danno 1,228]

Sounds like Greenland will be green once more.

Good news for them, in fact many areas which can't support life, will now be able to.

Why assume the Earth will suddenly stop thse changes because we built NYC a bit too close to the water?

As the ice sheets receded off of most of europe do you think there was concern then?

Should there have been?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxivUqgLwjQ

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yep, nothing to see. Move along.

And of course this is not happening. The sea ice FLOATS because it is less dense (takes less space than an equal weight of water) by 9% (taht would be the "tip of the iceberg" they talk about) This means as it melts sea levels will DECREASE. Yep, nothing to see.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In that case, I won't feel bad about walking away from it. Or rather swimming away.

Simple experiment perhaps you can understand.

1. Put ice cubes in a glass. As many as you can.

2. Fill the glass to the very brim with water.

3. Wait for the ice to melt.

4. See if the glass overflows.

Report back to the class your findings.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And of course this is not happening. The sea ice FLOATS because it is less dense (takes less space than an equal weight of water) by 9% (taht would be the "tip of the iceberg" they talk about) This means as it melts sea levels will DECREASE. Yep, nothing to see.

Actually, since the ice is floating, it displaces an equal mass of water. When it all melts and sinks, sea levels will be unchanged, as long as the mean temperature of the water stays the same. Once all the ice melts, however, sea temperatures will rise, and there will be some thermal expansion. However, as the temperature rises, so will the vapor pressure, so the sea levels will decline somewhat as the atmosphere is able to hold more water, and produce greater precipitation. Good thing, as the amount of arable land will increase in Asia and in North America as the winters become milder. Canada and Russia should profit wildly in the latter half of the century.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Simple experiment perhaps you can understand.

1. Put ice cubes in a glass. As many as you can.

2. Fill the glass to the very brim with water.

3. Wait for the ice to melt.

4. See if the glass overflows.

Report back to the class your findings.

Try this with water that eventually gets above 4°C and then report back to the class, okay?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Try this with water that eventually gets above 4°C and then report back to the class, okay?

It evaporates?