Skip to content

Climate

The canary is tweeting - Arctic winter ice ties lowest level ever

by Martin Leggett 24 Mar 2011
The canary is tweeting - Arctic winter ice ties lowest level ever

If there's one part of the world that could be considered the canary in the coal-mine of climate change, it's the frozen ice sheets of the Arctic. That's where temperatures are rising fastest, and where the effects, in a visibly shrinking ice-cap, are most dramatic. And the apparent flooring of Arctic sea-ice levels this decade, has just been reinforced by news from the NSIDC - this March's ice area is tied for the lowest March maximum on record, last set in 2006.

The tracking of sea-ice changes over time is a tricky business, because of the natural see-sawing, with the seasons. In winter the ice area tops 15 million square km, whereas in winter it plunges to less than 5 million sq km. So scientists monitoring the levels compare the yearly peaks and troughs, to get an idea of the longer term trend in sea-ice levels.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is one a several groups monitoring sea-ice levels, using microwave sensors on polar satellites. March is the time when the sea-ice flips from its winter growth to a summer slide-down; and this maximum is looked out for, keenly, each year. The NSIDC has just 'called' the maximum for the 2010-11 winter, based on the last 5 days showing falling sea-ice levels; the provisional numbers come out at 14.64 million square km

This is a whopping 1.3 million sq km below the average March maximum seen from 1979-2000, and ties the lowest previous maximum, seen in 2006. This only confirms the strong downward trend in the Arctic ice-sheet, when looked at over a number of years. Tracking the differences from the average, for each year, shows an accelerating rate of ice-loss growth, especially in summer. Some scientists project an ice-free Arctic within our lifetimes - and possibly even within a decade or so.

Not only does the shrinking polar ice-cap demonstrate the very real effect of global warming, right here and right now - the consequences may be colossal, if this continued ice-loss takes us towards open water at the north pole. There could be massive unforeseen changes in everything from oceanic current flows, to regional climate, and it may even cause the release of climate-shaking levels of methane.

Some consequences may already be showing themselves in the snow-chaos of the last 3 winters. Climate scientists have noticed that these exceptionally cold and snowy winters, for North America and Europe, appear related to the weakening of the 'polar vortex'. Those spinning winds usually keep Arctic air locked up around the poles. Sea ice melting could be undermining that cold air 'fence'. So it seems that the canary is tweeting louder and louder. The question is - is anyone listening?


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping