Arctic ice volume lowest ever as globe warms: U.N. - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Arctic ice volume lowest ever as globe warms: U.N.
Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:03pm EST

By Robert Evans

GENEVA (Reuters) - Ice volume around the Arctic
region hit the lowest level ever recorded this year
as climate extremes brought death and devastation
to many parts of the world, the U.N. weather
agency WMO said on Tuesday.

Although the world's average temperature in 2008
was, at 14.3 degrees Celsius (57.7 degrees
Fahrenheit), by a fraction of a degree the coolest
so far this century, the direction toward a warmer
climate remained steady, it reported.

-snip-

A report presented by Jarraud at a news conference
showed Arctic ice cover dropping to its second lowest
extent during this year's melt season since satellite
measuring began in 1979.

However, the Geneva-based agency said, "because ice
was thinner in 2008, overall ice volume was less than
in any other year." It added: "The season strongly
reinforced the 30-year downward trend in the extent
of Arctic Sea ice."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE4BF31120081216

[northofdenali]

1. Don't drive off the Haul Road in summer -

even in a 4WD Jeep you'll get stuck. Didn't used to happen at all. Mother Earth has a way of telling us to fuck off.

[Jamastiene]

2. I am afraid we are too late to reverse the worst of it. n/t