This summer may see first ice-free North Pole

Trinity · 06-28-08, 07:49 AM

This summer may see first ice-free North Pole - Yahoo! News

Quote:

WASHINGTON - There's a 50-50 chance that the North Pole will be ice-free this summer, which would be a first in recorded history, a leading ice scientist says.

The weather and ocean conditions in the next couple of weeks will determine how much of the sea ice will melt, and early signs are not good, said Mark Serreze. He's a senior researcher at the National Snow and Ice Data Center and the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.

The chances for a total meltdown at the pole are higher than ever because the layer of ice coating the sea is thinner than ever, he said.

"A large area at the North Pole and surrounding the North Pole is first-year ice," Serreze said. "That's the stuff that tends to melt out in the summer because it's thin."

Preliminary February and March data from a NASA satellite shows that the circle of ice surrounding the North Pole is "considerably thinner" than scientists have seen during the five years the satellite has been taking pictures, NASA ice scientist Jay Zwally said Friday. He thinks there is slightly less than a 50-50 chance the North Pole will be ice-free.

There could be no ice on the North Pole this summer. Any thoughts on this in regards to global warming? What impact will the ice melting at the North Pole lead to in the future? What r yr views on this? Is this a worrying trend?

P/N · 06-28-08, 10:17 AM

Don't these two statements seem odd?

Quote:

There's a 50-50 chance that the North Pole will be ice-free this summer, which would be a first in recorded history, a leading ice scientist says.

Quote:

Preliminary February and March data from a NASA satellite shows that the circle of ice surrounding the North Pole is "considerably thinner" than scientists have seen during the five years the satellite has been taking pictures, NASA ice scientist Jay Zwally said Friday.

So, "recorded history" only goes back 5 years?

Trinity · 06-28-08, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P/N

Don't these two statements seem odd?

So, "recorded history" only goes back 5 years?

Ah well, I think they only used this satellite to record the depth of the ice from the surface outlook for ONLY 5 yrs. But the fact that there was ice in the North Pole shd be a simple thing to note. No need to record how thick the ice is, simply that there WAS ice at the North Pole is sufficient for the statement in which ice-free North Pole 'would be a first in recorded history'. Simply put, it was saying there is projected to be no ice for the 1st time ever on North Pole this summer

Give the poor cold ice scientists a break, they have to measure the ice on North Pole and hear u poof poof their findings

Dezaad · 06-28-08, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P/N

Don't these two statements seem odd?

So, "recorded history" only goes back 5 years?

Are you seriously trying to imply that there was sometime in recorded (North Pole) history where it could conceivably have been ice free? Because that particular satellite is not the only thing watching these things, just to give you a little hint. I mean really, I can't believe you don't bother to reason this out...

It is ok to be an ideologue, of course, but to not avail yourself of simple facts only makes you look ignorant.

P/N · 06-28-08, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezaad

Are you seriously trying to imply that there was sometime in recorded (North Pole) history where it could conceivably have been ice free? Because that particular satellite is not the only thing watching these things, just to give you a little hint. I mean really, I can't believe you don't bother to reason this out...

It is ok to be an ideologue, of course, but to not avail yourself of simple facts only makes you look ignorant.

Yes, it is possible that the North Pole could have been ice free. Be it during "recorded history", no, but during the "history of the world" (great movie BTW), absolutely it is possible and likely. Don't be a buffoon and assume that I can't "reason this out..."

I was simply looking at the quote and noticing how funny the two statements were when grouped together. A little levity please...

partier9 · 06-28-08, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P/N

Yes, it is possible that the North Pole could have been ice free. Be it during "recorded history", no, but during the "history of the world" (great movie BTW), absolutely it is possible and likely. Don't be a buffoon and assume that I can't "reason this out..."

I was simply looking at the quote and noticing how funny the two statements were when grouped together. A little levity please...

I forget when this was but not in recorded history, the northern and southern polls were tropical swamps or somthing like that.

Diogenes · 06-28-08, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezaad

Are you seriously trying to imply that there was sometime in recorded (North Pole) history where it could conceivably have been ice free? Because that particular satellite is not the only thing watching these things, just to give you a little hint. I mean really, I can't believe you don't bother to reason this out...

It is ok to be an ideologue, of course, but to not avail yourself of simple facts only makes you look ignorant.

Recorded North Pole history goes all the way back to 1912 or so (nearly a century!!). It does not go back to the period before the Little Ice Age that began 600+ years ago, to the period when the Vikings colonized Greenland.

If the arctic ice pack goes away, it will be that much easier to drill for oil in those arctic waters.

Happiness is a warm planet.

jfuh · 06-28-08, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Recorded North Pole history goes all the way back to 1912 or so (nearly a century!!). It does not go back to the period before the Little Ice Age that began 600+ years ago, to the period when the Vikings colonized Greenland.

If the arctic ice pack goes away, it will be that much easier to drill for oil in those arctic waters.

Happiness is a warm planet.

Please show evidence that the north pole was "warm" or "habitable" during viking "colonial era.

Dezaad · 06-28-08, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P/N

Yes, it is possible that the North Pole could have been ice free. Be it during "recorded history", no, but during the "history of the world" (great movie BTW), absolutely it is possible and likely.

Absolutely during the history of the world, I would almost assume that it was at some time, definitely.

Quote:

Don't be a buffoon and assume that I can't "reason this out..."

I didn't say you couldn't, I said you didn't bother.

Quote:

I was simply looking at the quote and noticing how funny the two statements were when grouped together. A little levity please...

Ok. Knock Knock...

Diogenes · 06-28-08, 07:02 PM

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Originally Posted by jfuh

Please show evidence that the north pole was "warm" or "habitable" during viking "colonial era.

Not necessary, since I'm not making the wild claim that it's never happened. I freely concede that open water at the North Pole has probably not happened during the nearly 100 years of its recorded history. I do not concede that open water at the pole is unprecedented or disastrous.