Arctic melt faster than forecast

[lovuian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6610125.stm

Arctic ice is melting faster than computer models of climate calculate, according to a group of US researchers.

Since 1979, the Arctic has been losing summer ice at about 9% per decade, but models on average produce a melting rate less than half that figure.

The scientists suggest forecasts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may be too cautious.

The latest observations indicate that Arctic summers could be ice-free by the middle of the century.

"Somewhere in the second half of the century, it would happen," said Ted Scambos of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado.
more...
But they admit it might happen even sooner the models are sucking at predicting
Scientists covering their butts so when the ice is gone ...dang it was a fluke...Sorry

[lapfog_1]

1. Models are being modified to reflect positive feedback

cycles... of which there are many.

Even if we stopped increasing CO2 in the next 10 years completely, it may be too late. And by stop increasing, I mean we halt all human sources of CO2, not level off the amount produced.

[seriousstan]

3. Shall we all hold our breaths?

[lapfog_1]

5. Won't have to... nature has a way of creating balance

or a new equilibrium.

Course, you could plant some trees instead of cutting more down instead... or just wait for nature to take its course.

[nam78_two]

2. K&R.nt

[marions ghost]

4. shhhh don't tell anybody

This might be bad for bidness.

"They also calculate that about half, if not more, of the warming observed since 1979 originates in humanity's emissions of greenhouse gases."