Sea Ice Ends Year at Same Level as 1979

[Chris_]

Sea Ice Ends Year at Same Level as 1979

Rapid growth spurt leaves amount of ice at levels seen 29 years ago.

Thanks to a rapid rebound in recent months, global sea ice levels now equal those seen 29 years ago, when the year 1979 also drew to a close.

Ice levels had been tracking lower throughout much of 2008, but rapidly recovered in the last quarter. In fact, the rate of increase from September onward is the fastest rate of change on record, either upwards or downwards.

The data is being reported by the University of Illinois's Arctic Climate Research Center, and is derived from satellite observations of the Northern and Southern hemisphere polar regions.

Each year, millions of square kilometers of sea ice melt and refreeze. However, the mean ice anomaly -- defined as the seasonally-adjusted difference between the current value and the average from 1979-2000, varies much more slowly. That anomaly now stands at just under zero, a value identical to one recorded at the end of 1979, the year satellite record-keeping began.

*snip*

Earlier this year, predictions were rife that the North Pole could melt entirely in 2008. Instead, the Arctic ice saw a substantial recovery. Bill Chapman, a researcher with the UIUC's Arctic Center, tells DailyTech this was due in part to colder temperatures in the region. Chapman says wind patterns have also been weaker this year. Strong winds can slow ice formation as well as forcing ice into warmer waters where it will melt.

MORE

OMG, all those "experts" from back in the 70's were right.  A new ice age is starting!!!111!!! 

[Peter3_1]

Indeed, it is, in about 2000 years. I am interested in how the glacier cycle this time around will respond to the Younger Dryas period. Will it extend  this interglacial period, will it have had no effect, etc etc? But, some tell me the odds of my surviving the next 120 to 140,000  to find out are very slim....

http://www.answers.com/topic/younger-dryas

[jinxmchue]

Paging Al Gore.  Al Gore, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[JohnnyReb]

Soon people will be asking, "How many BTU's in an Al Gore carbon credit?"