from Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI): http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news273425

a few excerpts, my abbreviated translation:

“this year, there was an exceptional amount of ice – according to expedition leader Prof. Gerhard Kattner. The extent reached from the high North southward to 74 degrees latitude. The main objective of the research cruise was to check 17 moorings with instruments that monitor temperature, salinity and currents of the water masses. AWI has been carrying out these unique high-latitude investigations since 1999. Observed 2008 temperatures are slightly lower than 2006 measurements, and there are preliminary indications of a return of the pacific water mass signature, which has been absent since 2004″

ulrich lobsiger

REPLY: “…neither does your rather terse and pedantic reply.” That wasn’t intentional, I was just baffled by the comment and trying to figure it out. I wasn’t aware that you were commenting on “jeez”’s comment instead of the main post, there was no indication. – Anthony

REPLY: “Anthropromorphizing”?

No word with that spelling. Did you mean this? (dictionary.com)

an·thro·po·mor·phize [an-thruh-puh-mawr-fahyz] Pronunciation Key –
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -phized, -phiz·ing.
to ascribe human form or attributes to (an animal, plant, material object, etc.).
Also, especially British, an·thro·po·mor·phise.

I don’t see anyplace in my post where I “ascribe human form or attributes to (an animal, plant, material object, etc.).” Could you perhaps explain what you mean?

On being taken seriously; This forum had over 600,000 page views last month, so apparently there are a few people who do. – Anthony

No sound is heard as the pod clusters together, communicating via touch who still lives and via absence those now wet souls who will be forever missed.

Seemingly sentient, the pod of baby ice stiffens, gaining resolve, bracing for the ongoing battle with the elements, and although it makes no sense, apparently leaning into the wind, as if gesturing, “bring it on!”

The experts have said there is a good chance (50/50) of a completely ice-free arctic (during the summer months) by the year 2013, others have said “as early as 2013 or as late as 2030″. That would, of course, mean you could paddle a kayak to the North Pole AND have a commercially navigable NWP… but also obviously both of those are likely to be possible sooner than a completely ice-free arctic.

The NWP was already “commercially navigable” last year on Aug. 21st, although I don’t think you could have called it commercially feasible! But, that probably will happen soon; it may not even be open this year or the next, but once the arctic DOES go completely ice-free, even for one day, I’d say that would be the time to invest in shipping companies that are prepared to use the NWP!

I have no idea what possibility the kayaker has of actually paddling to the North Pole any time soon, but it will be interesting to track… he’s clearly timing it so that he will be there and back right around the time of minimum ice, we’ll see how he does…

Mike said the MELT was greater than average, and it has, all year. The RATE of melting, on the other hand, has very closely paralleled the average rate of melting, until the last 3 days… the rate has now accelerated to be greater than the average, beginning a spike in melting similar to early July of last year’s record.

I have no expectations that there will be either an ice-free NWP this year or a clear kayak-sized path to the pole, but the experts say there is a good chance (50/50) of it happening by 2013, and that does appear to be reasonable.

As others have said, time will tell.

Mike Keep, I understood you to be saying that the ice “is” melting faster than the mean. My rejoinder was simply that it “is not” according to that graph.

Now, as of the latest update, you can say it “is” melting faster than the mean.” Micajah

Kind of illustrates the folly of using relatively short periods of time as a trend. I’m glad we now agree.
‘Cooling’ posters take note.

jeez,

Except for the serious defect of being comprehensible, you could be a poet. But at least you avoid rhyme, so there is hope for you.

For in this battle between nature’s adversaries, time is the referee, the arbiter of success, and survival the only measure of victory.

Soon…very soon, the exhausted baby ice will know either the joy of returning home to flow another year, or finally melt into the endless peace of failure.

(slightly updated from original)

And again, FYI I do not moderate at CA. In fact, I get zambonied all the time. Mosh and I went off on a theme yesterday that was hilarious, now all gone, just the memories, and one vestigial reference in one of Staffan’s posts.

Seemingly plunged into a downward spiral of accelerating destruction, the baby ice cautiously and at the same time playfully relies on instinct, not courage to survive to another season.

It is this instinct, carved and molded by generations of ice that came before, that protect and sustain the baby ice throughout the treacherous long summer.

After beating back the solar onslaught, the now exhausted baby ice crawls slowly towards the safety and comfort of the long winter nights, finally to rest, to heal, to strengthen, and thus to perpetuate nature’s glorious ice dance of the seasons.