| Click for larger image – Polarstern am Eisrand vor Nordost-Grönland |
| Photo: Martin Graeve, Alfred-Wegener-Institut |
August 7-08 press release on work done from MV Polarstern in the northern Greenland Sea (between Svalbard and NE Greenland):
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″
h/t to: Ulrich Lobsiger for the link and translation
Paul Marek- “Model forecasts are considered facts”
Where do you get these ridiculous statements from, where does it say that the models are considered ‘facts’!
“How silly of me.”
How right and the only worthwhile contribution to this thread you’ve made!!
Paul Marek: “I get it now. Model forecasts are considered facts. How silly of me.”
No need to get snarky. Remember that we are discussing science, which is a mix of theory and fact, or more to the point, evidence. You may have an animus against theory, but theories are indispensable to the practice of science.
Epilogue:
Science Daily offers the Polarstern story today, in a comprehensive translation. Our detailed discussion was started here almost a week ago:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811092458.htm
Again, the best way to monitor Arctic Sea Ice conditions day by day is the excellent overview offered here, as posted by several contributors in the past – one can enter any two dates for comparison:
http://igloo.atmos.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/test/print.sh?fm=08&fd=14&fy=2005&sm=08&sd=14&sy=2008
Right now, the obvious anomaly is a great deal of open water in the Beaufort Sea (creating sufficient fetch for wave build-up, making current oceanographic and seismic research more difficult). Three years ago, the open water was in the Chukchi and Laptev Seas – this illustrates circulation and wind patterns…
It will be interesting to observe what the next three weeks will bring.
For perspective, please check this outrageously flippant column by Thomas Friedman in the International Herald Tribune (I posted it before):
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/06/opinion/edfriedman.php
his words: “Remember: Climate change means ‘global weirding,’ not just global warming.”
we’ll see – Mr. Celebrity Columnist.
If I had time, I would research Traditional Ecological Knowledge, talking to Inuit Elders about the warm spells in the 20s and 30s, among others – anybody knows about oral history accounts?
ulrich lobsiger
Epilogue:
Science Daily offers the Polarstern story today, in a comprehensive translation. Our detailed discussion was started here almost a week ago:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811092458.htm
Again, the best way to monitor Arctic Sea Ice conditions day by day is the excellent overview offered here, as posted by several contributors in the past – one can enter any two dates for comparison:
http://igloo.atmos.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/test/print.sh?fm=08&fd=14&fy=2005&sm=08&sd=14&sy=2008
Right now, the obvious anomaly is a great deal of open water in the Beaufort Sea (creating sufficient fetch for wave build-up, making current oceanographic and seismic research more difficult). Three years ago, the open water was in the Chukchi and Laptev Seas – this illustrates circulation and wind patterns…
It will be interesting to observe what the next three weeks will bring.
For perspective, please check this outrageously flippant column by Thomas Friedman in the International Herald Tribune (I posted it before):
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/06/opinion/edfriedman.php
his words: “Remember: Climate change means ‘global weirding,’ not just global warming.”
we’ll see – Mr. Celebrity Columnist.
If I had time, I would research Traditional Ecological Knowledge, talking to Inuit Elders about the warm spells in the 20s and 30s, among others – anybody knows of any oral history accounts?
ulrich lobsiger