Study: Arctic ice cover drops 23 percent

PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- NASA scientists said the Arctic's thick, year-round sea ice cover has diminished 23 percent during the past two winters.

That drastic reduction of perennial winter sea ice is believed the primary cause of this summer's fastest-ever sea ice retreat on record and the subsequent smallest-ever extent of total Arctic ice coverage.

A team led by Son Nghiem of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory studied trends in Arctic perennial ice cover by combining NASA satellite data with a computing model based on observations of sea ice drift from the International Arctic Buoy Program.

Between winter 2005 and winter 2007, the Arctic's perennial ice cover shrunk by an area the size of Texas and California combined, the researchers said. Scientists said they observed less perennial ice cover in March 2007 than ever before, with thick ice confined to the Arctic Ocean north of Canada

More?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/inde...-arcticice.xml

Certainly this is cause for some concern but is it cyclical?

That's the first thing I was thinking...

If they were doing studies for the last 50 years on it they may find the same thing from 1971-73, 1985-87, 1996-98, and then now...Who knows?..

On Discovery Channel's "The Deadliest Catch", the captains were complaining that the icefloe this year was one of the worst they've seen in 25 years...

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It seems to me at least, the ice flows seen are a direct result of the loss of ice cover from the main bodies of accumulated ice we call the arctic. Its not as if the pieces that separate from the whole melt immediately, and so must go somewhere. It is likely we are indeed seeing a major change in arctic climate, that is leading to Ice loss.

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i have to agree there is concern for the climate. While in the Oxbow mountains early this spring I observed an unusual sight to a nature watcher. White tail deer in the Oxbow and sawtooth mountain range have until recently never been seen. now they are very much beginning a strong population and the mule deer and elk are going up even higher than before on a regular basis. Tis is not a migratory pattern at all. elk and mule deer seek cooler weather while the mid western white tail will only migrate to climates that are not regularly harsh. This leads me to believe the climate is at least shifting and wondering why. I do know weather comes in patterns of decades at times due to the orbit of the earth around the sun, and whats called the 99 yr cycle of our path in space during the same orbit . This affects everything to do with weather and habitat needed to survive effectively for many animals even humans.

You know I just saw a show that said that fresh water running out of the Hudson from the glaciers that were in the Great Lakes was the cause for one of our recent Ice ages.That the fresh water entering the ocean disrupted convectivity. Making the ocean currents to stop their cycle etc.

So what do you suppose all of this fresh water will do? Just sayin.

The ocean currents are the EXACT reason climates change...

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So you are ready for the Ice age?

We may not be ready for any change, but what I don't believe in is that change is due to us evil humans...

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I don't think its evil. I just think some don't want to accept any responsibility for anything. And the others are anxious to accept it. Like a guilt trip. Being a progressive I see a gray area.

Fact is that several volcanoes have erupted under the northern ice pack. Of course this was the result of us drilling on Alaska's north slope. And they surely wouldn't blame the Russians or the 4th largest producer in the world (Norway).

The other fact is that the Antarctic ice cap has expanded and gotten thicker and the ocean temperature has actually gone DOWN.

Yes these are FACTS. Check it out yourself if you doubt me.

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