Posted on 10/14/2009 4:53:37 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LONDON (AFP) – The Arctic ice cap will disappear completely in summer months within 20 to 30 years, a polar research team said as they presented findings from an expedition led by adventurer Pen Hadow.
It is likely to be largely ice-free during the warmer months within a decade, the experts added.
Veteran polar explorer Hadow and two other Britons went out on the Arctic ice cap for 73 days during the northern spring, taking more than 6,000 measurements and observations of the sea ice.
The raw data they collected from March to May has been analysed, producing some stark predictions about the state of the ice cap.
"The summer ice cover will completely vanish in 20 to 30 years but in less than that it will have considerably retreated," said Professor Peter Wadhams, head of the polar ocean physics group at Britain's prestigious Cambridge University.
"In about 10 years, the Arctic ice will be considered as open sea."
Starting off from northern Canada, Hadow, Martin Hartley and Ann Daniels skied over the ice cap to measure the thickness of the remaining ice, assessing its density and the depth of overlying snow, as well as taking weather and sea temperature readings.
Across their 450-kilometre (290 mile) route, the average thickness of the ice floes was 1.8 metres (six feet), while it was 4.8 metres when incorporating the compressed ridges of ice.
"An average thickness of 1.8 metres is typical of first year ice, which is more vulnerable in the summer. And the multi-year ice is shrinking back more rapidly," said Wadhams.
"It's a concrete example of global change in action.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Those polar bears would make good bathroom rugs.
“When I was in Alaska last spring, I saw where there used to be glaciers. We went up Turnagain Arm one afternoon. When my aunt and uncle first moved there 40 years ago, they sent us pictures of the very places I saw in June, it looked like they were in the middle the Arctic. I looked at the same places and saw bare rock. I asked if it was only because it was June and their ‘high summer’ but my uncle said no, it’s been disappearing for years. He worked there for the Dept of the Interior for all those years, he used to go out on the glaciers and into the Interior all the time.”
We spent 5 months in Alaska last summer. While visiting the museum at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, I talked with a scientist who giving a lecture there about glaciers.
He noted that glaciers are never steady-state. They are either growing or shrinking. He said you don’t really want them growing because they won’t stop, ever. They just keep coming.
It would have to be 100 degrees at the poles to even make a dent in them.
Sounds like a good place to plant the crops the enviroes are starving for water in California.
I have my condo under construction just a few miles from the pole. You’re all invited. I’ll be on beachfront property so bring your trunks. Beers on me. Campers and tents welcome. Not sure about how they’ll be breaking but bring your board with you! See you there! Doc!
Yes, and we will need funding to measure the ice again, each year, for the next 20-30 years.
Where were you in the 3rd AD? I was at KG 65-68 and again 81-84.
Friend of mine once called this type of prediction a “bow wave.” Always out there in the front, but can’t quite reach it.
On the plus side, the opening of the NW Passage would prevent the burning of millions of tons of Bunker C fuel in oceanic freighters. That would have huge environmental benefits!
“In about 10 years, the Arctic ice will be considered as open sea.”
Halp Algore.....we are stuck here where all we get is loose candy corn, pennies and apples with razor blades in them.....please send Snickers and Almond Joy bars...
One question and I know it sounds as if an attack of the messenger as opposed to the message. But considering the sad state of the scientific industry today and the absolute farce the so-called 'peer review' process has become, I must ask.
Is Pam Hadow independently wealthy and funded this expedition on his own? Or was he funded by some private/government/or quasi governmental NGO?
And damn it, I WANT MY FLYING CAR, AND I WANT IT NOW. I have had my heart set on it since the 1950s when Popular Mechanics said it was coming soon. (With a nuclear powered engine, BTW)
It must be some evil oil company plot. ;~))
Hero and explorer Pen Hadow has his skis on backwards.
You probably could, if you wanted to only collect 50 cents on the dollar, when you won.
Odds makers have better sources than pressure groups.
Yes, and exactly the same with fusion reactors; a moon base; no more recoverable oil; truly efficient, cheap solar panels; inexpensive desalination plants supplying SoCal with an abundance of water; Malthusian starvation; 3-D TV...Oh, wait; Sony is supposed to have that last one on the market for this Christmas season.
43-27’N 4-6” twice this month; and down to single digits several nights. Several light snowfalls as well. Also got 3” of hail June 1st.
Melons didn’t do diddly squat; late corn froze instead of ripening.
Instead of splitting & stacking firewood for winter, we’ve been burning it. This year, I’ll be buying a ton or so of coal.
NO more calls, please.
We have a winner!
Except the wind. It was about 70 mph. Viscious.
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