The North Pole has become an island for the first time in human history.
Startling satellite pictures taken three days ago show that melting ice has opened up the fabled North-West and North-East Passages – making it possible to sail around the Arctic ice cap.
The opening of the passages has been eagerly awaited by shipping companies which hope they will be able to cut thousands of miles off their routes.
But to climate change scientists it is yet another sign of the damage global warming is inflicting on the planet.
Mark Serreze, a sea ice specialist, described the images as an ‘historic event’ – but warned they added to fears that the Arctic icecap has entered a ‘death spiral’.
“Examination of several proxy records (e.g., sediment cores) of sea ice indicate ice-free or near ice-free summer conditions for at least some time during the period of 15,000 to 5,000 years ago”
– Walt Meier
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/07/14/nsidcs-dr-walt-meier-part-2/
It is about time to let the quality of their work be reflected in the quantity of their funding! NSIDC should have been more honest in their reporting and included the lasc of enough historical evidence to determine any long term trend. They have better access to the data I read about the polar regions and the historic records I was able to find and they ignored them in favor of being a part of the Chicken Little Brigade. Walt has tended to defend the alarming claims regarding the Arctic ice and downplaying the historic insignificance of the current conditions.
Just to clarify, the Serrezze story about the “Arctic island” dates from 2008, but Mark has consistently run to any microphone to inveigh against the “death spiral” of Arctic ice. Nothing new there.
Walt Meier seems more reasonable, rational, data-based.
Good summary at WUWT last month highlights the differences in approach of two NSIDC “names”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/12/05/sea-ice-news-31/