kind of exciting in the Arctic right now

[Backwoodsrider]

Arctic sea ice extent continues to track well below average, but it is still unclear whether March will see an increase in ice, or establish a record low maximum. Regionally, Arctic ice extent is especially low in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. In the Antarctic, sea ice shrank to the fourth highest minimum in the satellite record.



[link:https://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews|

[cilla4progress]

1. Can you please translate?

This is Greek to me.

[mackdaddy]

2. Global climate change getting worse.

First, in the North, less arctic sea ice now mean more blue water this summer to absorb even more solar heat. This could accelerate the methane release in the north, and put global warming on steroids. And this is on track for a new record low.

In the south, there is more SEA ice. More of the ocean has frozen this cycle, and is near all time high. This will be touted by the climate deniers as evidence of "see, nothing to worry about". But this may be caused by more LAND ice falling into the sea lowering the salinity and making it easier to freeze, and differences in the southern jet streams staying over the antarctic oceans. This was not as clear from what I was reading, and they seem to no know for sure.

The big problem for humanity in the south pole is that Land ice falling into the sea will cause the oceans to rise, flooding all coastal cities in the coming decades. Sea ice does not affect the ocean levels by much as it is already part of the ocean level. Was explained as sea ice is like the ice cubes in you glass melting. Land ice melting into the sea is like putting additional ice cubes into your glass.

Overall, there is less sea ice though as more has melted in the north pole than has been additional freezing in the south pole.

Disclaimer, I do not claim to be an expert, just been reading on my own. This is from above link, and news magazine show "VICE" on HBO season 3 episode 1 from March 5, 2015 and Season 2 episode 2 of "VICE". These shows went over in detail the melting of LAND ice in both Antarctica and Greenland in the north.

[NMDemDist2]

3. good explanation, thanks n/t

[Backwoodsrider]

4. interesting points

I just read too and probably not enough. I did not know those theories on why there is more ice in the south pole, very interesting. The arctic and the Middle East are were its happening right now.