Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy

Explain it to me, nail-pounder. I laugh at just about everything you
post, give me some more chuckles.

In article <43vFk.510$DK3.102@edtnps82>, Grand Mal
<ironwrkr@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Skipper" <skipSPAMpress@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:031020081137004538%skipSPAMpress@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Arctic sea ice annual freeze-up underway

Did you read this, Mensa-boi? Did you understand what it says?


PRESS RELEASE
Date Released: Friday, October 3, 2008
Source: European Space Agency - Comments Comments

After reaching the second-lowest extent ever recorded last month, sea
ice in the Arctic has begun to refreeze in the face of autumn
temperatures, closing both the Northern Sea Route and the direct route
through the Northwest Passage.

This year marked the first time since satellite measurements began in
the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, also known as the Northeast
Passage, and the Northwest Passage were both open at the same time for
a few weeks.

"NIC analysis of ESA's Envisat and other satellite datasets indicated
that the Northern Sea Route opened when a path through the Vilkitski
Strait finally cleared by 5 September," NIC Chief Scientist Dr Pablo
Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker
Healy in the Arctic, where he is conducting joint mapping operations
with the Canadian Coast Guard.

"This is the first time in our charting records that both historic
passages opened up in the same year," Clemente-Colon said. "Both of the
routes appeared as closed by 22 September."

The Northwest Passage's most direct route, a long-sought shortcut from
Europe to Asia through the Canadian Arctic that has been historically
impassable, opened up for the second consecutive time this year.

"As early as 18 August 2008 the Northwest Passage began appearing
navigable in the US National Ice Center (NIC) analysis of Envisat
Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) data although we were cautious
in announcing it as a significant amount of ice was still prevalent,"
Clemente-Colon said.

The indirect, more southerly route - called the Amundsen Northwest
Passage - opened up in July 2008, and according to ASAR images is about
to close in the coming days.

The Northern Sea Route extends from the Norwegian Sea, along the Arctic
coast of Asia and through the Bering Sea to the Pacific Ocean, while
the Northwest Passage runs along the north coast of the North American
continent.

Each year, the Arctic Ocean experiences the formation and then melting
of vast amounts of ice that floats on the sea surface, but the rate of
overall loss has accelerated.

During the last 30 years, satellites that have been observing the
Arctic have witnessed reductions in the minimum ice extent at the end
of summer from around 8 million km.


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... through the Northwest Passage. ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... and the Northwest Passage were both open at the same time ... Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... Now scroll down to the fifth paragraph. ... through the Northwest Passage. ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... through the Northwest Passage. ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • ESA Says Northwest Passage Open
    ... The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk to its lowest level ... this week since satellite measurements began nearly 30 years ago, ... up the Northwest Passage - a long-sought short cut between Europe and Asia ...
    (sci.military.naval)