More sea ice news

[andygates]

From the American National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC):
"Sea ice extent has fallen below the 2005 minimum, previously the second-lowest extent recorded since the dawn of the satellite era. Will 2008 also break the standing record low, set in 2007? We will know in the next several weeks, when the melt season comes to a close. The bottom line, however, is that the strong negative trend in summertime ice extent characterizing the past decade continues."  [full article]

NSIDC also have some nice Google Earth layers covering sea ice, permafrost and glacier coverage.

Comments

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

Note the statistical upturn at the end there. That'll give Clarkson something to crow about.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Upturn? You don't mean the end of September each year, do you? That's just the start of the winter freeze.

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

You think Clarksonites will care?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

If they can't work out that the lowest point of the dip is the ice minimum then the graph is wasted on 'em and they can bite my shiny metal ass. But you're right, at least one of them will say, probably hysterically and with buggy-out eyeballs, "IT FREEZES AGAIN!" as if that answers everything.

Best comedy in the handbasket: The Clarksonites yelling up to the winchman to pay out more rope.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

That's okay, it looks like the methane clathrates are on the move. That'll shut 'em up.

Oh crap. :(

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

Huh. I didn't want to know that.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Could just be methaney permafrost melt. The eyes in the sky will be able to tell. Gods, I hope so.

So, you're the professional. How do we kill Kingsnorth and get a commitment to no new CO2-belching plants from this and future governments?

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

Ask me another!

I have been having an interesting time reading Heat. He doesn't tackle land use as far as I can see, but new (for me) thoughts on energy & transport.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

How so?

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

E.g. stuff on household hydrogen generation as one means to power microgrids ("the energy internet"), and more convincingly, on motorway hubs for coach networks (avoiding the time lost in visiting every city centre on the route).

Will lend when finished if you like.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of talk about the "passive house" being a thing of the past. Until it gets either sexy or required by building codes, I won't hold my breath. Motorway hubs mean changes, which mean hassle. Good idea, but it will need to be done well.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

The climatecamp.org.uk folks are, in fact, planning a rolling-staffed blockade of the Kingsnorth site in the sprig, to prevent construction. I shall volunteer my services as a weekend (eco) warrior. "No new coal" seems to me like a good line to draw in the sand.

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

Icon lurve, BTW.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

I've had so much Arctice ice action lately that it demanded one.