Late last spring, scientists were predicting a 50-50 chance that the North Polar area could be ice-free at the end of the Arctic melt season (mid-September). That would be the first time in recorded history such an event occured. Last year's minimum ice extent was an enormous record, with vast areas that had never been ice free in the past exposed as open water.
The August report from National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is now available, and it appears that this year's melt back will not be as severe as last year's. The average area considered ice-free (maximum of 15% ice) since 1979 is 8.88 million square Km; this year the ice free area is 7.71 million square Km. Last year at this time, the ice free area was 6.82 million square Km. Couple of interesting pictures: a map shows the ice cover as of August 1 compared to the average, and a diagram shows the historical average of ice coverage by date compared to this summer and last summer.
In other news, a British scientist warns his country to prepare for a 4 degree Celsius rise in temperature (7.2 F). According to the article, this would be roughly equavalent of moving the climate of Morroco in Northern Africa to Great Britain.
Hope your Hummer has air conditioning.
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