Arctic ice cap melting 30 years ahead of forecast (annoying ice succesfully removed by man!)

Reuters ^ | Tue May 1, 2:59 PM ET | Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Arctic ice cap is melting much faster than expected and is now about 30 years ahead of predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.S. ice expert said on Tuesday.

This means the ocean at the top of the world could be free or nearly free of summer ice by 2020, three decades sooner than the global panel's gloomiest forecast of 2050.

No ice on the Arctic Ocean during summer would be a major spur to global warming, said Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the National Snow and Ice Center in Colorado.

"Right now ... the Arctic helps keep the Earth cool," Scambos said in a telephone interview. "Without that Arctic ice, or with much less of it, the Earth will warm much faster."

That is because the ice reflects light and heat; when it is gone, the much darker land or sea will absorb more light and heat, making it more difficult for the planet to cool down, even in winter, he said.

Scambos and co-authors of the study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, used satellite data and visual confirmation of Arctic ice to reach their conclusions, a far different picture than that obtained from computer models used by the scientists of the intergovernmental panel.

"The IPCC report was very careful, very thorough and cautious, so they erred on the side of what would certainly occur as opposed to what might occur," Scambos said in a telephone interview.

ICE-FREE SUMMER

The wide possibility of what might occur included a much later melt up north, or a much earlier one, Scambos said.

"It appears we're on pace about 30 years earlier than expected to reach a state where we don't have sea ice or at least not very much in late summer in the Arctic Ocean," he said.

He discounted the notion that the sharp warming trend in the Arctic might be due to natural climate cycles. "There aren't many periods in history that are this dramatic in terms of natural variability," Scambos said.

He said he had no doubt that this was caused in large part by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which he said was the only thing capable of changing Earth on such a large scale over so many latitudes.

Asked what could fix the problem -- the topic of a new report by the intergovernmental panel to be released on Friday in Bangkok -- Scambos said a large volcanic eruption might hold Arctic ice melting at bay for a few years.

But he saw a continued warm-up as inevitable in the coming decades.

"Long-term and for the next 50 years, I think even the new report will agree that we're in for quite a bit of warming," Scambos said.

"We just barely now, I think, have enough time and enough collective will to be able to get through this century in good shape, but it means we have to start acting now and in a big way."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed...

[N3WBI3]

which he said was the only thing capable of changing Earth on such a large scale over so many latitudes.

Umm the sun cant do that?

[LibLieSlayer]

Someone is lying!!! It was here on FR a few days ago that we learned that Ice was thick and waters that were navigable during this time of year were frozen solid. Seal hunters are stranded and seals are safe due to thick Ice packs and frozen passes. “Oh Lucy... you got some ‘splainin’ to do”!

LLS

[dead]

LOL! That is the funniest photoshop I have ever seen. Who is the guy with the purple plastic hooters?

Uncle Hugo Chavez. I stole it from his recent UN appearance.

[JustDoItAlways]

Here was the sea ice minimum last year in late September, 2006. What they are saying is this area will shrink to Zero by September 2020 (because from October to August (even in 2020), the rest of the arctic ocean will be frozen solid.)

By September it starts freezing back because the North Pole then goes into 6 months of darkness. There has always been ice at the North Pole, it is not going to melt. These scientists need to take some science training.

[CharlesWayneCT]

If we need more reflective surfaces, we could cut down the rain forests (which absorb LOTS of energy from the sun) and replace them with big buildings with shiny metal roofs.

We should also work to develop a reflective asphalt surface — we have tons of roads, if we just made them all reflective, we could really whup this global warming thing.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the National Snow and Ice Center in Colorado.

Just remember, this guy has a vested interest in keeping the world as cold as possible. His job depends on it.

[Ditter]

tee hee! I’m laughing again.

[davidlachnicht]

Longer Growing Seasons - Milder Hurricanes/Typhoons - Comfortable Winters

[supremedoctrine]

“selling carbon offsets”——
Man, you just gave me a good marketing idea-—if you are
“of an age” to remember that far back, you will remember the fleeting but nonetheless huge success of another novelty item, “The Pet Rock” which sold as a cheap gift for a season or two. Carbon offsets are all of a piece with that/ I am going to look into this, but it may already too late.....I mean..(sob) .....for the planet..... :>(

[w1andsodidwe]

Oh, yes, I fondly remember the “pet rock”. I think this is another one of those things. Kind of like naming a star for you. Instead of a star naming certificate just sell them a bunch of worthless global offset certificates. Makes the guilt go away, so can’t be all bad.