From The Guardian (UK) today:
Wind contributing to Arctic sea ice loss, study finds
New research does not question climate change is also melting ice in the Arctic, but finds wind patterns explain steep decline
Much of the record breaking loss of ice in the Arctic ocean in recent years is down to the region's swirling winds and is not a direct result of global warming, a new study reveals.
Ice blown out of the region by Arctic winds can explain around one-third of the steep downward trend in sea ice extent in the region since 1979, the scientists say.
In addition to the hot air being blown about by bloviators who would rather talk than take action, there is another breeze causing the world's ice to rapidly melt.
More:
The study does not question that global warming is also melting ice in the Arctic, but it could raise doubts about high-profile claims that the region has passed a climate "tipping point" that could see ice loss sharply accelerate in coming years.
The new findings also help to explain the massive loss of Arctic ice seen in the summers of 2007-08, which prompted suggestions that the summertime Arctic Ocean could be ice-free withing a decade. About half of the variation in maximum ice loss each September is down to changes in wind patterns, the study says.
So what, you ask? It was cold in Washington, DC for a few weeks this winter, so global warming is illusory, right?
Anyway, you have an ice machine in your fridge, so who needs that Arctic ice!
From the telegraph.co.uk link above:
Further analysis by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warned that the "irreversible trend" will cause dangerous feedback because water absorbs more heat from the sun than ice, therefore further speeding up the global warming process. The melting of the ice could also trigger extreme weather patterns as the ocean currents change and release even more greenhouse gases stored under the ice.
We can enjoy the passage of the HCR bill for a few minutes, sure.
But this might be a good time to seriously look into that chewing gum while we are walking thing.
The COP15 summit was largely a tremendous failure, kicking the can further still down the road.
With each passing day, the effects of our inaction become increasingly irreversible.
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