Pause in Arctic's melting trend

BBC News ^ | 9/17/09 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

This summer's melt of Arctic sea ice has not been as profound as in the last two years, scientists said as the ice began its annual Autumn recovery.

At its smallest extent this summer, on 12 September, the ice covered 5.10 million sq km (1.97 million sq miles).

This was larger than the minima seen in the last two years, and leaves 2007's record low of 4.1 million sq km (1.6 million sq miles) intact.

But scientists note the long-term trend is still downwards.

Arctic temperatures have been cooler this year than last year, researchers said, and winds have helped to disperse the sea ice across the region.

The data is compiled from satellite data at the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado.

[D-fendr]

But scientists note the long-term trend is still downwards.

Long termn trend has been down since the last ice age; will continue to be down until the onset of the next ice age.

Short and medium term trends have been up. And down. And up...

[SteamShovel]

But scientists note the long-term trend is still downwards.

You are right, they can't tell. But they are darned sure we are still going down.

It's as if they can see the future and this "pause" is just a pause.

If they were unbiased and objective, they would say the PAST trend was downward, and we have what could be the beginning of an upward trend. We will have to wait and see to confirm that or see if it resumes the downward trend.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Doogle]

But how do the chiiiiildren feeeeel about it, huh?

..the children if left alone,would feel like I did when I was a child..."huh?...cold is cold....hot is hot...polar bears eat seals and human garbage...it's the adults who scare children and give them complexes...would ban DDT and allow millions to die to unnecessary sickness.

[GOPJ]

Winter?