By Steven Goddard
The Catlin crew was picked up this week, after completing less than 50% of their planned journey to the North Pole and coming up about 500km short. Immediately upon their return, The Guardian reported :
After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.
This reminds me of the legend of “bringing the mountain to Mohammed.” The crew reported traveling over 400km, a non-trivial percentage of which was due to floating along with the Arctic drift. See this map of Arctic buoys and their drift patterns:
Polar drift map over the last 60 days.
Given the polar drift, one has to wonder how much ice was actually traversed, and how many measurements were taken near the same spot on the first year ice. The Catlin Crew reported in The Telegraph :
Arctic explorer Pen Hadow has warned that the polar ice cap he has been examining to gauge the extent of climate change appears far thinner than expected after trekking more than 250 miles to the North Pole
From the Catlin web site :
Expedition Leader Pen Hadow revealed that initial Survey results show the average ice thickness in the region to be 1.774m.
1.774m is fairly thick for first year ice (and requires a very accurate tape measure.) They started their expedition in March on ice which NSIDC had already identified in February as first year ice – so why were they surprised to find first year ice?
The NSIDC February map showed multi-year ice as shades of red and orange, and their start point (red dot) was more than 100km away from the edge of the multi-year ice. The crew also reported that their data is biased by a pragmatic choice of route across flat (first year) ice.
One further consideration, when interpreting the ice thickness measurements made by the CAS team, is navigational bias. The team systematically seeks out flatter ice because it is easier to travel over and camp on.
According to the Catlin web site, there was plenty of second year ice – but apparently the cold weather and lack of progress kept them from reaching it. Note in the map below that second year ice (SY) is not considered multi-year (MY) ice. The AGW world has recently redefined the word “multi-year” as meaning greater than two years. (Next year it may need to be defined as greater than three years.)
.
In summary :
- Due to horrifically cold weather, hypothermia and frostbite, they made it less than half way to the pole.
- Some of the distance they did travel was due to polar drift. They reported crossing the 85th parallel “in their sleep.”
- They started on ice which was already known to be first year ice, yet were “surprised” to find that it was first year ice.
- They stayed on first year ice for most of the truncated journey.
- Their ice measurements tell us that the first year ice this year is fairly thick.
- Their ice measurements tell us very little or about the thickness or “health” of multi-year ice.
- They will no doubt get an invite to St. James Palace for tea with Prince Charles
May, 2009 shows the greatest ice extent in the AMSR-E record, which seems to contradict Hadow’s highly publicised remarks about Arctic ice health.
So – I went to the Guardian website and read their article – and they do not say the Catlin team was picked up at the North Pole. Indeed, the article clearly says they are being picked up 490 Km short of the Pole.
So – do you regularly make up quotes on the assumption that your readers will not check?
NwCitizen writers have been following your stuff – and have been impressed to a point. Perhaps we need to keep track of you as you supposedly – read pretend – to keep track of the envoro’s press. Hello.
I’ll be sure to be the first to inform my geography class of the new position of the North Pole. Thanks for the update.
There’s also a rather good summary of Catlin at American Thinker titled, The Catlin Ice Follies.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/the_catlin_ice_follies.htm
Yet, in what passes for journalism today, the brain numb communication majors, having mastered the challenging task of reading, proudly display their accomplishment by dutifully reading press releases handed them by advocacy groups. Theirs is not to think, to check facts, to look behind the curtain and see all the shenanigans happening there. So now, across the land these light headed talking heads solemnly pontificate on the great heroic adventure that was Catlin. From them you will never hear of the flight over the Arctic that covered more area in 30 days than Catlin did in 73 days and found ice much thicker than expected.
Remember everyone – let’s all stay on message and let’s not get distracted by any such foolishness as facts.
** ** **
This was all just a PR stunt leading up to Copenhagen. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s still that inconenient moment in September when the ice melt turns out to be less than the last two years. Bet the media manages to be silent about that off message fact.
It is pretty clear that we disregard the Catlin ice measurements. They have shown there is no reason to expect objective, honest science out of them.
I’ve got the May 15, 2009 – day 135 NH sea ice extent at 287,000 km^2 (2.2%) below the average of 1979 to 2008.
This is an interesting period now because the ice melt slows down a little at this time of year and then speeds up again around the solstice on June 21st.
“So – I went to the Guardian website and read their article – and they do not say the Catlin team was picked up at the North Pole. Indeed, the article clearly says they are being picked up 490 Km short of the Pole. ”
John Servais, I can confirm that you are wrong.
They state, as Anthony says, “After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.”
Direct quote. I have screenshots as well.
John Servais,
I’m assuming that you know how to follow hyperlinks in the article. The last word in the first paragraph has a link to this quote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/mar/24/catlin-arctic-survey-arctic?picture=347364812
So before you accuse others of “making up quotes” I suggest you beef up your Internet skills a bit.
John
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/mar/24/catlin-arctic-survey-arctic?picture=347364812
“Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/5323888/The-Catlin-Arctic-Survey-led-by-Pen-Hadow-finds-the-polar-ice-cap-is-thinner.html
“250 miles to the North Pole ”
Hello
It is sloppy, imprecise writing, but then again, everything about this “expedition” has been sloppy and imprecise.
Do you perhaps have reading anomaly?
“After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.”
That statement from the ‘Guardian’ implies they reached the North Pole.
Steven, we need to add another point to your summary:
8. The Catlin Arctic Survey did not result in any useful information.
Is there a “GPS report” of this PR stunt across the Arctic ice? I think an examination of their distance traveled while idle in their tents (due to ice drift), as a fraction of total distance would be interesting.
Is there a report yet of the results of the German team that “scooped” the Catlin survey available? http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/04/28/inconvenient-eisdicken/#more-7406
John Servais (16:58:28) :
You didnt see this quote? What does ” having battled to the north pole imply? That they got within 490 km?
Direct quote from the Guardian link (Shows up when you scroll over the picture)
“Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.” ‘
Yes, it’s not in the article, but nevertheless is originated by the Guardian.
You alarmists can only nitpick, while you spew out massive garbage. The big lie concept was working for a while.
Congratulations on being first to comment. You guys must have a really efficient robot scanning WUWT.
John Servais – sorry, you have it wrong. I followed the link provided in Steven’s story and there it was, a block of text over a photo of the 3 climate pilgrims, stating:
After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route. The Guardian has been following the expedition’s progress with images, audio, video and blogs sent back by the team. You can find full coverage here.
Steven, I would suggest you screen capture that (if you haven’t already done so) and include in an update to this terrific (and utterly hilarious) post. Once the folks at the Guardian realize their goof, it may get air-brushed without comment. This sort of idiocy simply must be captured for posterity.
John Servais,
The picture here contains the quote above:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/mar/24/catlin-arctic-survey-arctic?picture=347364812
Unless they have changed it… you better look quick…
You said, “So – do you regularly make up quotes on the assumption that your readers will not check?”
You owe Steve an apology.
@John Servis
Ya know, John? I just have to assume you’re a first-timer on Anthony’s Blog.
If you’d spent any time here, you’d know that Anthony is concerned with scientific fact presented for his readers’ perusal and is open to polite discussion of the facts.
Your snide comment is rather jarring and I must assume you haven’t taken the time to study the volumes of material presented in this award-winning blog.
I went to the link that Anthony provided and easily found the quote that Anthony referenced. It’s the caption on the picture and it states that ‘ . . . . British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole . . ..”
Now THAT is misleading reportage.
Since you’re such a crusader for truth-in-reporting, why don’t you skip on over to the Catlin/Guardian love fest and pee on their parade.
Or rather:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_oCeMiYptlC8/Sg9ZnU_WA6I/AAAAAAAAAYA/o_su80ej1EM/s800/guardiannorthpolecatlin.JPG
Do you regularly twist what others say? Steve didn’t say the Guardian reported they were picked up at the North Pole.
Here is the quote from the Guardian online that pops up in an inset with the picture of the three intrepid fools (1 of 27).
“After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route. The Guardian has been following the expedition’s progress with images, audio, video and blogs sent back by the team. You can find full coverage here.”
Steve did not make up a quote. It’s right there. So you jump in with your warmist defense to try to mislead readers following behind you with your own falsehood. Nice try. Did you think we also would not check?
Given the entire publicity stunt farcical nature of this “scientific expedition” in the first place, I suppose your own misreprepresentation of what Steve is saying is to be expected. Afterall, it’s hard defend any alleged science in this “Green Trek” when the Russians drove to the North Pole in a fraction of the time in what amounted to super Hummers (and relative comfort) and consumed far less fuel than the Catlin Team’s Otter. We’re all still wondering how many fuel drums these Catlin numbskulls left out on the ice.
John Servais
‘So – I went to the Guardian website and read their article – and they do not say the Catlin team was picked up at the North Pole. Indeed, the article clearly says they are being picked up 490 Km short of the Pole.
So – do you regularly make up quotes on the assumption that your readers will not check?’
What are you talking about? Did you click onto the link?
Steven didn’t make anything up. It seems that The Guardian is doing the misleading thing.
Oh! Everything I said above applies to John Servis’ impugning Steven Goddard’s honesty :0)
Regarding the Catlin team the Guardian wrote
“The Catlin Arctic Survey’s original mission to take measurements right up to the North Pole has not worked out though. They will be picked up 490km from the pole, less than half way there”.
I think your headline is really “cherry picking” and really doesn’t enhance the credibility of a site that I strongly support. Unfortunately the headline may well be seized on by the alarmists to discredit your site and those that quote it
John Servais (16:58:28):
So – I went to the Guardian website and read their article – and they do not say the Catlin team was picked up at the North Pole. Indeed, the article clearly says they are being picked up 490 Km short of the Pole.
So – do you regularly make up quotes on the assumption that your readers will not check?
I went too and found this:
After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.
Which is exactly what Steven Goddard wrote:
Immediately upon their return, The Guardian reported :
After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow’s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.
What’s the problem?
Catlin should get an insurance on “catched moving the North Pole”… Just in case Catlin wanted to change the North Pole to Mexico. Heh… 🙂
JohnA’s link was identified as a threat site by Norton. It contains three trojan viruses…
From the looks of the picture of the trio with the caption it sure looks like they’re dressed for all that warm arctic air that’s melting the polar ice cap.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/mar/24/catlin-arctic-survey-arctic?picture=347364812
I would have guessed that during such warm conditions they would have been pictured enjoying a balmy say 50F-60F day. The gift that keeps on giving “Catlin Survey”
Another case of “the Pen being mightier than the truth,” I suppose.
Anthony:
Without detracting in any way from the courage and tenaciousness of the three polar explorers, one would have to conclude that their efforts have come up considerably short of their goals. They did not reach the North Pole (Guardian’s article to the contrary), their equipment was woefully inadequate for the conditions encountered (poor planning and poor execution), they did not succeed in measuring ice thickness to the extent they wanted and they have underscored the fact the Arctic remains a domain dominated by frigid temperatures and ice. If anything, they have educated the public (largely British school children apparently) that the Arctic will not be bikini haven anytime soon.
But something bothers me – why has no one queried the Catlin organization about the garbage left behind on the ice? When the group was put out on the ice, they went out with 2 Twin Otters. They were picked up by 2 Twin Otters, but one was full of fuel and the other was full of BBC TV crews and breathless reporters. Who picked up the empty drums? Where are the sledges and detritus of the expedition – did they come back in the 2 Twin Otters? Are the Floating Supply Bases still out on the ice? Are there caches of full fuel drums still out on the ice to pollute the pristine Arctic seas? Obviously, the BBC is not going to ask those tough questions.
I’m curious to see how this is reported in the U.S. press. I can only hope it won’t be presented as anything except a publicity stunt. I’m sure Mr. Padow is planning a book.
Anthony
You may have already considered this idea. Each time you post a blog such as this why not send a communication to the author of the outrageous statement (particularly when they are “expert” scientists) advising that person that they are the subject of a blog here on WUWT. Also point out the monthly traffic that visits this site each month and also invite the author to justify on the blog their original statement. Me thinks that this action will quickly qwell some of the more stupid media statements.