North Pole to be ice-free this summer

[Seen the light]

At least potentially:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/exclusive-no-ice-at-the-north-pole-855406.html

It seems unthinkable, but for the first time in human history, ice is on course to disappear entirely from the North Pole this year.

The disappearance of the Arctic sea ice, making it possible to reach the Pole sailing in a boat through open water, would be one of the most dramatic – and worrying – examples of the impact of global warming on the planet. Scientists say the ice at 90 degrees north may well have melted away by the summer.

"From the viewpoint of science, the North Pole is just another point on the globe, but symbolically it is hugely important. There is supposed to be ice at the North Pole, not open water," said Mark Serreze of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado.

If it happens, it raises the prospect of the Arctic nations being able to exploit the valuable oil and mineral deposits below these a bed which have until now been impossible to extract because of the thick sea ice above.

More at link.

[colt equalizer]

1. Maybe this Science Daily report is on to something.

Fire Under Arctic Ice: Volcanoes Have Been Blowing Their Tops In The Deep Ocean
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2008) — A research team led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has uncovered evidence of explosive volcanic eruptions deep beneath the ice-covered surface of the Arctic Ocean. Such violent eruptions of splintered, fragmented rock--known as pyroclastic deposits -- were not thought possible at great ocean depths because of the intense weight and pressure of water and because of the composition of seafloor magma and rock.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080625140649.htm

[leftofthedial]

2. I think the landlord wants us out of here

[colt equalizer]

3. Naw. The landlord has watched the place become a worse shambles over 100 million years.

I don't doubt he loves us, always will, and has a plan regardless of the doomsayers.

[RedCappedBandit]

6. Impossible. The earth is only 6,000 years old.

[colt equalizer]

8. That would be 6,000 God years, not Human years. NT

[tom_paine]

33. Bet you don't doubt a lot of things.

There's a word for that: sucker.

Con men must LOVE you.

[trotsky]

4. Ah yes, what a pity that there is nothing in the article to say that such eruptions...

are responsible for melting sea ice. In fact, it hints the other direction. But do enjoy your stay here!

[colt equalizer]

10. I don't think the article addressed that at all, but I don't doubt the next will.

Is it inconceivable that volcanoes under the Arctic would warm water, warm water would rise, and that rising warm water would melt ice?

[trotsky]

15. You need to understand the scales, amounts, and temperatures involved.

You clearly do not. But hey, that never gets in the way of the denialists anyway. You do realize that even John McCain supports fighting global warming, and recognizes it as a clear threat to the world?

[colt equalizer]

16. whatever, just tell me what melted the last dozen glaciers if it wasn't global warming. NT

[trotsky]

18. I would love to, but you clearly don't understand the science.

And from your post history, I'm not too sure that you're on the right message board.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[trotsky]

23. Half the Democratic party, huh?

You're a funny one. Maybe you'll learn something while you're here! I sure hope so.

[colt equalizer]

25. Yup, it was more before, then gas went to $4.... NT

[tom_paine]

32. Gonna have to show some data if you're going to spew bullshit like that.

Prove it. Show the poll data, if you have it.

(and NOT one from the Climate Change Denial Industry, perhaps a Pew or Quinnepac or Zogby or the rest of the handful that still have some integrity left...NOT The Wise Use Coalition or astrturf likethat)

[SpiralHawk]

34. It's not a matter of 'belief'

It's a matter of fact.

Something republicon homelanders have demonstrated vast disrespect for with their radical 'belief based' plundering of the planet, leaving a shambles of the economy and the US Constitution, and heap of planetary crap for our children.

[tom_paine]

28. This is the new spin from the RW think tanks and Climate Denier Industry

Not that I don't doubt volcanoes are going off in the ocean. I don't doubt the data.

What I doubt is the way that everything and anything and I MEAN ANYTHING, is grapsed onto by the Climate Change Denier Industry to sow doubt, which is their "product" after all.

You get what you pay for, and the Climate Change Denial Industry has invested billions.

I don't know who you are, you just may well be someone who sounds an awful like a Bushie, but I am certainly willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. You may just be transimtting the latest bullshit meme from our multi-billion dollar Climate Change Denial Industry.

Yep. It's volcanoes. That's it. That's all it is. We can just keep on like we're keeping on.

:rofl:

[slackmaster]

5. As frightening as that sounds, I'd kind of like to see it

It would be very interesting.

[SpiralHawk]

7. "La de da, dee da." - Republicon homelanders

[ColbertWatcher]

9. 99 views thus far and only 1 rec (mine)? n/t

[mdmc]

11. 4 now

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Good damn it! n/t

[Trajan]

12. What is the chance that this is EXACTLY what the Oil Barons want ?

FUCK the earth ... There is money to be made under that thar ice, er ... water ....

OF course they wouldn't want to ruin the environment in order to make a killing on petroleum ... right?

Yeah ..... right .....

[Seen the light]

41. Never thought of that

That's so fucking twisted that it sounds correct.

[mdmc]

13. So this is what the ice (lack of ice) looks like at the North Pole

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/exclusive-no-ice-at-the-north-pole-855406.html

[bluesmail]

17. Yes. It is done. Thanks Cheney & Gang (BigOil).

I give up. News. Naw.

[razors edge]

19. What did it look like in the 1700's?

Perry didn't get there till 1909.

And BTW no I don't advocate shitting where you eat. (pollution) I'm just pointing out the fact that our empirical data base is small in comparison to the history of the area.

[tinrobot]

22. Explorers have searched for a Northwest Passage since 1497

John Cabot was the first to try and sail over the top of North America, many followed since but none succeeded.

[razors edge]

26. Thats my understanding too.

Many tried in sailing vessels with not much more than a compass and a crude time piece to calculate their actual position.

They had to sail in the warmest time available and leave before any local freeze blocked their escape.

They did not have the luxury to linger and observe much.

That still doesn't preclude the possibility the cap has had this occurrence many times before in the modern times.

[Gregorian]

21. Dear Santa Claus,

I'm sorry. I'm also mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more.
I'm selling my Porsche, and saving the money for an electric car and photovoltaics.

I hope you get this, as your mail has been redirected to solid land in the Bahamas.

[HeeBGBz]

24. So Santa has oil

The elves have WMD's and a reindeer delivery system.

Sux to be them.

That article is sobering. It makes me queasy.

[progressoid]

27. Read the comments!!

Mostly denial posts.

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/openhouse/2008/06/have-your-say-9/comments/page/2/#comments

[Fox Mulder]

31. I put in my two cents.

:D

[Fox Mulder]

29. K&R

It's very important that everyone sees this. It makes me want to cry.

[Gregorian]

36. The human race is skating on thin ice.

I've shed enough tears over this. In fact, I've nursed a horrible headache today over this. I'm not kidding. I've taken this extremely seriously for many years. Most people simply don't want to think of how it absolutely requires a change in their lifestyle. Most people can't even see that population is the driving force when combined with modern consumption.

It's hard to witness. But now I have myself to preserve. Knowing and being happy are pretty damned hard for me to do, simultaneously.

On the other side of this, we're sitting ducks. The moment petroleum supplies slow down, this whole scheme we've got going comes crashing to a halt. Food, transportation...

[Fox Mulder]

37. According to the article, we don't even have thin ice to skate on.

:(

[Fire Walk With Me]

30. "valuable oil and mineral deposits below (the ice cap)".

????

[cobalt1999]

35. Holy Crap! Maybe that will make some people wake up.

Everyone needs to start changing their lifestyles ASAP.

[carlyhippy]

38. poor polar bears

Carly

[Elwood P Dowd]

39. Massive Exxon-financed attack in the comments section.

They actually pay people to comment on articles such as this one. Go to any newspaper site or sports site and post something about global warming. You will see the same talking points that you see in the comments section of this article.

[Seen the light]

40. I was thinking the same thing nt

[Duke Newcombe]

42. Personally, I could actually go for a Disney Northwest Passage cruise.

Just saying.

Duke