Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:01pm EDT (Reuters) – The multiyear ice covering the Arctic Ocean has effectively vanished, a startling development that will make it easier to open up polar shipping routes, an Arctic expert said on Thursday. Vast sheets of impenetrable multiyear ice, which can reach up to 80 meters (260 feet) thick, have for centuries blocked the path of ships seeking a quick short cut through the fabled Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They also ruled out the idea of sailing across the top of the world. But David Barber, Canada’s Research Chair in Arctic System Science at the University of Manitoba, said the ice was melting at an extraordinarily fast rate.
It is all rotten ice, and the polar bears fell through and drowned. Sea level rose 250 feet, and the world broiled. We all died in a cloud of blue steam twenty years ago. And if we don’t destroy the Bill of Rights, things will get even worse.
This might be how Dr Barber did his research:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=dTmXv1anpUo&feature=fvwp
Shipping is going to make a killing on that route during the brief weeks (days?) that it’s open.
NOT. (unless they dredge for all those drowned polar bear skins on their way through) sarc.
In the past I have come across a graph that displays multiyear ice, I think it was at NSIDC. I recall, I believe, that it has also been used here and discussed. Last time I saw it, it was showing an up trend for the four and five year periods. Would be grateful for a link to it (assuming it is still available)?
With the impression given by viewing the US Navy Arctic ice thickness gifs it could be an interesting view.
Mick.
Mick,
http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/sotc/sea_ice.html
http://www.real-science.com/shock-news-multiyear-ice
Thanks for that, the lower graph at http://www.real-science.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ScreenHunter_234-Mar.-11-08.22.jpg is the one that I have in mind. Have not as yet located versions of it for 2012/13. It can be seen that there was an upturn in the two and three year, how much made it into the four year old ice? 🙂
Mick.