Saturday, July 09, 2011

Arctic sea ice in record retreat

An easy prediction is that climate change deniers will blame the Arctic ice retreat on the Arctic Dipole, trying to detract attention from global warming, while neglecting to mention that the Arctic Dipole is probably itself caused by global warming.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1842

Posted by: JeffMasters, 3:42 PM GMT on July 08, 2011
The summer melt season is in full swing in the Arctic, and sea ice there is in record retreat. Arctic sea ice is currently at its lowest extent on record for early July, according to estimates from the National Snow and Ice Data Center and University of Bremen. Moreover, Arctic sea ice volume is at its lowest on record, according to the University of Washington Polar Science Center, and during June 2011, was reduced by nearly half (47%) compared to its maximum at the beginning of the satellite era, in 1979.

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This pressure pattern, known as the Arctic Dipole, was dominant over the Arctic during June, leading to June having the 2nd lowest extent on record, and the record low extent observed at the beginning of July. The Arctic Dipole began emerging in the late 1990s, and was unknown before then; thus climate change is suspected as its primary cause. The Arctic Dipole has become increasingly common in the last six years, and has contributed significantly to the record retreat of Arctic sea ice.

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