Second Lowest Record for Arctic Ice Caps
From BBC News website:
What is remarkable in this graph is to look at the arctic see areas differences between 1979-2000 (the yellow line) averages and the last three record years (2007, 2008 and 2005):
- In the beginning of June one can see little difference (<10%) in ice areas between record years and 1979-2000 averages.
- This is in sharp contrast with large differences of about 50% at the end of record summers.
This can probably be explained by the thickness of ice extents which is not fully recovering year over year and higher summer temperatures than averages.
The ripple effect of ice-free arctic summers is rising sea temperatures at increasing pace as the sea absorbs much more heat from the sun than ice which reflects much of the sun rays back to space. So as ice caps decrease, more heat from the sun is stored in oceans and earth surface.
Higher sea temperatures lead to more water vapor (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere, trapping even more heat from the sun.
Higher sea temperatures can store less carbon dioxide (CO2), releasing even more CO2 in the atmosphere.
More CO2 and water vapor in the atmosphere lead to faster melting ice caps.
If this trend continues, it is very easy to understand how we could have ice-free arctic summers in just a few years while having winters arctic ice caps appearing with little change from above.
Global warming is all about ripple effects of multiple factors.
In the short-term most people seem more concerned with high gas prices pressuring the US House of Representatives to lift 27-year old moratorium on for oil drilling in coastal waters.
See also:
Arctic warming much faster than expected.
Ice-free Arctic summers coming fast.
Tags: Global Warming, Ice Caps.
