
Guest post By Joseph D’Aleo, CCM, AMS Fellow
Mother Nature for the second year in a row is sending a message to alarmists in the government and the media.
Another snowstorm has swept across the nation and focused its fury on the northeast corridor. Last year it was the Mid-Atlantic, the political center that was ground zero. This year ground zero is further north from New York City (the nation’s media center) into southern New England. In Connecticut, Hartford has had the snowiest January and month ever.
Since Dec. 14, snow has fallen eight times on the New York region – or an average of about once every five days.
In New York City, the third major snowstorm dropped 19 inches, the 8th heaviest snowstorm in history (back to 1869/70). The post Christmas blizzard brought dropped 20 inches, the sixth heaviest snowstorm. The blizzard paralyzed travel after Christmas.
SXUS71 KOKX 272202
RERNYC
RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
502 PM EST THU JAN 27 2011
...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT CENTRAL PARK NY...
A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 6.7 INCH(ES) WAS SET AT CENTRAL PARK NY TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 6.5 SET IN 1894.
SXUS71 KOKX 270631 RERLGA RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 128 AM EST THU JAN 27 2011 ...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT LAGUARDIA NY... A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 9.4 INCHES WAS SET AT LAGUARDIA NY YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 5 SET IN 1994. SXUS71 KOKX 270631 RERJFK RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 128 AM EST THU JAN 27 2011 ...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT KENNEDY NY... A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 6 INCHES WAS SET AT KENNEDY NY YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 3.3 SET IN 1994.
[See below for cumulative snow reports]
Earlier in 2010 on February 25-26th, the 20.9 inches was enough to put it in fourth place among Central Park snow events.
A storm on the 10th and 11th of January brought 9.1 inches. So far 56.1 inches has fallen which puts 2011 already in 6th place among all years since snow records began.

More light snow events and continued cold temperatures is forecast the next 5 or 6 days. I believe another storm will threaten next Wednesday and Thursday that could move the year into second or third place. I believe this season will eventually surpass 1995/96.
The media has been trying to find a way to blame global warming for the snow. Actually a rapid COOLING (the UAH January global number may be negative down almost a whole degree F since the warm peak after the El Nino during 2010) is likely to blame. The cooling the last several months my be they most significant of the satellite record. Clouds and precipitation always result from cooling processes. The cooling as we have posted is likely due to a Pacific that has turned cold, a La Nina, continued slow ramp up of feeble solar cycle 24 and a series of high latitude volcanoes that together with a quiet sun and a warm Atlantic helped support high latitude blocking high pressure (a negative Arctic Oscillation – the most negative on record last winter and continued negative most of the first 8 weeks this winter).
This video from last night gives you the flavor of the NYC snow although at one time there was lightning and thunder and near zero visibility snow.
================================================================
Be sure to visit Joe’s website: ICECAP.US and bookmark it.
Here’s the snowfall report from NWS NYC:
NOUS41 KOKX 271800
PNSOKX
CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-280551-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1259 PM EST THU JAN 27 2011
THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 13
HOURS FOR THE STORM THAT AFFECTED OUR REGION. APPRECIATION IS
EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SKYWARN
SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS. THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE
ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/NYC
********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************
LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
SNOWFALL OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT
CONNECTICUT
...FAIRFIELD COUNTY...
NORWALK 18.0 1025 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NEW CANAAN 18.0 530 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
DARIEN 18.0 800 AM 1/27 CT DOT
WILTON 17.3 1115 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
WEST NORWALK 17.0 110 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
WESTON 16.5 800 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
GREENWICH 16.0 720 AM 1/27 DPW
WESTPORT 14.8 830 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
RIDGEFIELD 14.0 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SHELTON 13.0 215 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
DANBURY 13.0 215 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
BRIDGEPORT 13.0 600 AM 1/27 COOP OBSERVER
...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...
HADDAM 15.0 1000 AM 1/27 CT DOT
MIDDLETOWN 15.0 535 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
OLD SAYBROOK 15.0 1000 AM 1/27 CT DOT
...NEW HAVEN COUNTY...
NORTH HAVEN 18.5 605 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
MILFORD 16.3 800 AM 1/27 CT DOT
NEW HAVEN 16.0 800 AM 1/27 CT DOT
BRANFORD 15.0 554 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NAUGATUCK 13.0 1020 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SOUTHBURY 12.5 440 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
WATERBURY 11.5 600 AM 1/27 CT DOT
BEACON FALLS 10.5 600 AM 1/27 CT DOT
MERIDEN 9.0 400 AM 1/27 CT DOT
...NEW LONDON COUNTY...
LISBON 17.5 702 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
COLCHESTER 16.0 800 AM 1/27 CT DOT
GROTON 13.8 1000 AM 1/27 CT DOT
NORTH FRANKLIN 13.5 625 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
GALES FERRY 12.5 717 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
NORWICH 10.5 800 AM 1/27 CT DOT
LEDYARD CENTER 10.0 900 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
UNCASVILLE 9.0 320 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NEW JERSEY
...BERGEN COUNTY...
GARFIELD 16.6 1038 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NORTH ARLINGTON 16.5 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
EAST RUTHERFORD 15.5 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
LODI 15.0 1119 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
1 W TENAFLY 14.6 700 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
PARAMUS 12.5 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
ORADELL 12.2 1015 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
SADDLE BROOK 12.1 700 AM 1/27 COCORHAS
RIDGEWOOD 11.7 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
RIVERVALE 11.5 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
HARRINGTON PARK 11.0 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 9.0 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
MAHWAH 8.9 900 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
...ESSEX COUNTY...
NEWARK AIRPORT 18.9 615 AM 1/27 FAA CONTRACT OBSERVER
BLOOMFIELD 16.5 340 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
BELLEVILLE 15.6 200 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
WEST ORANGE 14.2 330 AM 1/27 PUUBLIC
VERONA 14.0 200 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
CEDAR GROVE 13.2 410 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
...HUDSON COUNTY...
N HARRISON 17.0 600 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
JERSEY CITY 16.0 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
HARRISON 15.0 400 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTE
...PASSAIC COUNTY...
CLIFTON 19.0 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
WAYNE 10.5 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
HAWTHORNE 10.1 825 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
RINGWOOD 9.2 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
...UNION COUNTY...
RAHWAY 19.5 1030 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
ROSELLE 17.9 430 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
ELIZABETH 17.7 700 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
UNION 17.0 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
1 NNW WESTFIELD 16.7 700 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
WESTFIELD 13.0 650 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
CLARK 12.0 400 AM 1/27 NJ DOT
NEW YORK
...BRONX COUNTY...
PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSE 18.0 400 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
PARKCHESTER 16.3 630 AM 1/27 COOP OBSERVER
BRONX 14.7 620 AM 1/27 PUBLIC - BRONX ZOO
BEDFORD PARK 13.1 1230 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
...KINGS COUNTY...
MARINE PARK 17.5 800 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
...KINGS (BROOKLYN) COUNTY...
SHEEPSHEAD BAY 13.0 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
...NASSAU COUNTY...
WOODMERE 16.4 1000 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
LONG BEACH 15.9 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
BETHPAGE 15.5 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
PLAINVIEW 15.0 500 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
GARDEN CITY 14.8 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
MERRICK 14.2 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
VALLEY STREAM 14.2 900 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SYOSSET 14.0 400 AM 1/27 NWS EMPLOYEE
FLORAL PARK 14.0 345 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
LEVITTOWN 14.0 545 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NORTH MASSAPEQUA 12.5 915 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
OCEANSIDE 12.0 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
MASSAPEQUA 11.0 630 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
BALDWIN HARBOR 9.2 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
...NEW YORK COUNTY...
CENTRAL PARK 19.0 630 AM 1/27 CENTRAL PARK ZOO
...ORANGE COUNTY...
HARRIMAN 8.2 1200 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
NEW WINDSOR 7.2 630 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
MOUNTAIN LODGE PARK 7.0 1035 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE 6.5 927 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
1 NNW CORNWALL ON HU 6.5 700 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
MIDDLETOWN 5.4 245 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
GOSHEN 5.0 647 AM 1/27 SYWARN SPOTTER
MOUNT HOPE 4.3 830 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
NEWBURGH 2.0 820 AM 1/27 SYKWARN SPOTTER
...PUTNAM COUNTY...
MAHOPAC 11.0 900 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
4 ESE BEACON 8.5 700 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
8 NE COLD SPRINGS 8.0 700 AM 1/27 COCORAHS
...QUEENS COUNTY...
NYC/LA GUARDIA 17.3 615 AM 1/27 FAA CONTRACT OBSERVER
BAYSIDE 17.3 800 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
FRESH MEADOWS 16.2 230 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
WOODSIDE 16.0 600 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
NYC/JFK AIRPORT 10.3 615 AM 1/27 ASOS
...RICHMOND COUNTY...
GREAT KILLS 20.0 1000 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
ELTINGVILLE 18.0 800 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
STATEN ISLAND 15.0 500 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
...ROCKLAND COUNTY...
STONY POINT 7.6 624 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
CENTERPORT 16.5 600 AM 1/27 COOP OBSERVER
NORTHPORT 16.5 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
COMMACK 15.7 430 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
EAST SETAUKET 15.5 510 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
MEDFORD 15.4 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
MELVILLE 15.0 800 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
SMITHTOWN 14.5 1000 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
PORT JEFFERSON 14.0 630 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SHOREHAM 13.7 625 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
ISLIP AIRPORT 13.7 700 AM 1/27 FAA CONTRACT OBSERVER
NORTH BABYLON 13.5 615 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
UPTON 13.3 700 AM 1/27 NWS OFFICE
STONY BROOK 13.1 1100 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
MOUNT SINAI 12.4 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SOUND BEACH 12.1 630 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
CENTEREACH 12.0 730 AM 1/27 NWS EMPLOYEE
PATCHOGUE 12.0 620 AM 1/27 NWS EMPLOYEE
HOLBROOK 11.3 600 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
LINDENHURST 10.9 540 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
AMITYVILLE 10.5 1050 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
BABYLON 10.3 717 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
RIVERHEAD 9.2 730 AM 1/27 NWS EMPLOYEE
MATTITUCK 8.5 900 AM 1/27 NWS COOP
...WESTCHESTER COUNTY...
HARRISON 16.0 610 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
LARCHMONT 15.5 1000 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
ARMONK 14.5 615 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
PORT CHESTER 12.6 945 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
MOUNT KISCO 12.0 350 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
SCARSDALE 10.8 100 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
BEDFORD 8.1 1215 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
***********************STORM TOTAL ICE***********************
LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
ICE OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT
CONNECTICUT
...FAIRFIELD COUNTY...
WESTPORT 0.10 830 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
NEW YORK
...NASSAU COUNTY...
MERRICK 0.15 700 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
...QUEENS COUNTY...
BAYSIDE 0.10 800 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
BABYLON 0.25 717 AM 1/27 SKYWARN SPOTTER
HOLBROOK 0.20 500 AM 1/27 PUBLIC
STONY BROOK 0.12 110 AM 1/27 TRAINED SPOTTER
***********************PEAK WIND GUST***********************
LOCATION MAX WIND TIME/DATE COMMENTS
GUST OF
MPH MEASUREMENT
CONNECTICUT
...FAIRFIELD COUNTY...
BRIDGEPORT AIRPORT 40 1138 PM 1/26 ASOS
...NEW HAVEN COUNTY...
NEW HAVEN 48 1216 AM 1/27 ASOS
MERIDEN 37 1231 AM 1/27 ASOS
...NEW LONDON COUNTY...
GROTON 44 1207 AM 1/27 ASOS
NEW JERSEY
...ESSEX COUNTY...
NEWARK AIRPORT 40 1037 PM 1/26 ASOS
NEW YORK
...NASSAU COUNTY...
FARMINGDALE 40 912 PM 1/26 ASOS
NORTH MASSAPEQUA 35 725 PM 1/26 TRAINED SPOTTER - TSTM
...NEW YORK COUNTY...
CENTRAL PARK 37 735 PM 1/26 ASOS
...QUEENS COUNTY...
NYC/JFK AIRPORT 49 720 PM 1/26 ASOS - TSTM
NYC/LA GUARDIA 40 733 PM 1/26 ASOS - TSTM
...RICHMOND COUNTY...
STATEN ISLAND 55 720 PM 1/26 TRAINED SPOTTER - TSTM
...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
WESTHAMPTON BEACH 52 1117 PM 1/26 ASOS
SHIRLEY 41 1117 PM 1/26 ASOS
...WESTCHESTER COUNTY...
WHITE PLAINS 43 817 PM 1/26 ASOS
*****************MONTHLY SNOWFALL RECORDS******************
...SNOWIEST JANUARY ON RECORD...
...CLIMATE SITE... ...OLD RECORD... ...JANUARY 2011 TOTAL*...
CENTRAL PARK 27.4 INCHES (1925) 36.0 INCHES
NEWARK 31.6 INCHES (1996) 37.3 INCHES
LAGUARDIA 27.6 INCHES (1996) 32.4 INCHES
BRIDGEPORT 26.2 INCHES (1965) 41.8 INCHES
ISLIP 21.5 INCHES (2005) 34.2 INCHES
*MONTHLY SNOWFALL TOTALS AS OF 7 AM JANUARY 27 2011
Average total season snowfall today for Boston, MA is 19.3″.
Actual total season snowfall for 2010-2011 Winter in Boston, MA is 61.4″.
Departure from normal total season snowfall in Boston, MA is 42.1″.
We’re only 1 or 2 inches away from breaking the snowiest winter ever recorded!
Based on that guys comments, you would think most people would be in favor of global warming.
In Boston, this is shaping up to be another 1978. In ’78 we got several storms that did not melt and then a large nor’easter. Looking out into my back yard it is rumored that several piles of snow contain a car or three that we own. No melting temperatures of any sort forecast for a long time.
Well, it’s not as bad as the Sea of Okhotsk, where two ice breakers have been struggling to bring a 32,000 ton ship out of the ice since 31st December. 300 metres today & 20 miles to go. Of course, the trapped 300+ crew are of no interest to western media, because the world is warming and cold conditions are an anomaly.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2011/01/three-hundred-metres.html
Al Baby, are you in area?
According to some bloke called Trenberth, last year’s US blizzards were down to El Nino!
“Blame it on El Niño!”
Steve Baragona | Washington, DC February 10, 2010
“US blizzards, Asia’s typhoons, other extreme weather all linked to Pacific Ocean anomaly”
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/special-reports/american-life/Blame-it-on-El-Nino-84040872.html
Suppose this year it is the little girl’s turn?
No need to replay “In Search Of the Coming Ice Age”.
Just tune into the nightly news.
Some States have exhausted thier snow removal budgets, and more are nearing the end of thier ropes.
That map’s a fake!
(there’s no red or yellow dots on it……;-)
Joe Romm Jan 2009 said warm and permanent dry winters. Hello JOE
In weather and climate we have feedback mechanisms. In forecasting, we should give feedback.
Is this the reason the Hockey Team spent so much time training in Hawaii?
The “Al Gore Effect” is live and well: http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2011/01/global-warming-meeting-cancelled-due-to.html
I do hope Edward Markey’s district in MA is getting hit the hardest, again and again. They deserve to get hit hard. Let the AMO cycle and solar cycle divergence land on that district and then spin itself off to East Anglia.
ShrNfr says:
January 27, 2011 at 2:28 pm
78? There were only three storms of any consequence, at least anything before that got obliterated in most people’s memory.
A Jan 20 storm set a record for snow in 24 hours (25.1″), a couple weeks later a came the midwest’s Blizzard of ’78 that set an all-time low pressure record in Cleveland, but brought rain to a lot of the east coast. Then on Feb 6 came the start of the New England Blizzard of ’78 and people stopped using the 100 hour storm from 1969 as the living history yardstick. http://wermenh.com/blizz78.html
Hmm, I say the 24 hour record was broken again, but I must have something wrong, as I give 23.6″.
95-96 was a good season – 146.7″ in the Berkshires at Granville, MA. At the Blue Hills south of Boston, they had 144.4″, see http://www.bluehill.org/climate/annsnow.gif – there are several seasons with over 100″ there.
We should all take personal responsibility for climate change. Having decided to take responsibility, the action required is to minimise your personal impact, primarily through energy use but also through the foods that you eat.
NOTE: This is a SPAM ROBOT to link back to a site that sells solar power – ignore it – not a real person. I’m leaving this up so people know to ignore “it” on other sites as well.
Anthony
“The media has been trying to find a way to blame global warming for the snow. ”
Yes.
The main issue for the Warmista’s is Backradiation.
It is my opinion that backradiation is in conflict with the 2’nd law of termodynamics.
I must admit I was quite puzzled when I understood that Backradiation is the most important argument. It is THE ARGUMENT. It also puzzled me that I had never heard about this, and it contradicted every thing I had learned at school. But, yes, school was a long time ago.
It is also interesting to see that I am not alone. A professor at my old school is also of the opinion that it contradicts the 2’nd law. And since he is a Professor, and is much better at equations than I am, (I am below the cut-off frequency.) his writing on this might be of interest;
http://www.csc.kth.se/~cgjoh/blackbodyslayer.pdf
It’s just ‘local weather’, not climate — even though it takes up the ENTIRE northern hemisphere…
Hey Joe! Did you have the mute on when that video was playing? The wife is not happy that the kids heard it, although I must say I found it hilarious.
Anthony/Joe
1) Abdul is a robot advertising solar power gadgetry.
2) In the interest of completeness you should show the rain records that were on the original weather map. They complicate the story a bit but are part of this extreme weather story just as much as the record snows and lows.
“Can’t wait ’til summer!”
I hear ya, brother.
Climate change has caused my vision to deteriorate. I have become color blind. I cannot detect the red dots on that map yet I have been told by experts that they would be there.
Did the red dots already melt, or were they submerged by the rising seas?
Here in the D its been crazy… snow all the bloody time. Getting tired of it… although it is good for business (methane transport) so I’m not complaining, but we certainly don’t seem to be experiencing “global warming.”
And I have to ask, why again is global warming a bad thing again? Something about polar populations increasing and plant life growing better? Less snow and better crop wields maybe? Can’t seem to remember….
Abdul Rahim how, exactly, do you think human behaviour can effect the climate?
We can try to keep our personal environment clean by using less packaging and picking up after ourselves etc, but the hubris in thinking that we can control the sun, moon, tides and ocean currents is overwhelming.
my kids would like some snow. (highs in the 50’s this week.) We’re not as mild as last winter, but last year, spring didn’t arrive (first 75F day) until towards the end of June, or after it was “officially” summer.
Abdul Rahim says:
January 27, 2011 at 3:07 pm
“We should all take personal responsibility for climate change.”
OK. I admit. I did it. But it sure has been fun flipping things around to screw with the minds of the consensus. I drove a little less last year and, voila, Real Winter! But my apologies to western Russia and Pakistan for those blocking highs earlier last year. I was on vacation and things got a little out of control.
On the ABC national news that aired on the west coast just before the SOTU address by POTUS, the anchor reporting the severe cold weather in the east showed a graphic trying to explain how this was all caused by global warming. The idea was that an unusually warm Arctic with very little ice cover was putting immense amounts of moisture into the atmosphere that was falling as snow in New England. The problem . . . the graphic was a summer 2007 image of the Arctic sea ice extent, not a present-day image of the Arctic ice.