May 12, 2008
1323 gmt
North Pole/Artic Ocean Satellite
The Artic Oscillation/Vortex extends to Asia. It is continous from Alaska, at 9 o'clock to the Asian continent at 10 o'clock. The entire planet is extremely hot and the Australian/New Zealand drought continues.
This is the lastest out of Japan. You know the folks. The ones that brought the world Kyoto Protocol which was supposed to be ratified by all world powers that had the resources to reverse and stop Human Induced Global Warming by the year 2012. The USA is criminally liable.
Arctic ice seen shrinking to smallest size recorded (click at title to entry)The Yomiuri Shimbun
Ice sheets in the Arctic Ocean could shrink this summer to the smallest area on record since satellite observation of the sheets began in 1978, according to researchers.
Researchers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency made the prediction based on their analysis of satellite images. JAXA's satellite observations from September last year showed that the area covered by ice sheets in the Arctic Ocean had withered to the smallest on record.
Arctic ice is gradually shrinking year by year due to global warming. It expands in winter and shrinks in summer.
Their observations this winter also showed that the total area of ice in the Arctic had recovered to levels seen in previous years, according to the researchers.
Through observations conducted with the help of a Japanese device installed in a U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration earth observation satellite, JAXA confirmed a decline in the amount of thick perennial ice, or long-lasting sea ice.
A comparison of images taken on April 20 over the last six years also indicated that areas covered with perennial ice, which is light green in color, have been gradually shrinking since 2005. This year, areas with perennial ice further withered to nearly half the size seen in 2005, according to the researchers.
The researchers are particularly worried about the disappearance of perennial ice from around the North Pole.
It is understood that the thinner the ice is, the more easily it melts due to higher air and water temperatures.
(May. 12, 2008)
May 12, 2008
1530 z
Infrared Satellite Image of the Arctic Oscillation. (click here for 12 hour loop) It is enormous. This is a new maximum since October 4, 2002.
Local Time: 9:23 AM AKDT
Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W
Temperature :: 46 °F / 8 °C
Conditions :: Overcast
Windchill :: 43 °F / 6 °C
Humidity :: 71%
Dew Point :: 37 °F / 3 °C
Wind :: 7 mph / 11 km/h / 3.1 m/s from the East
Pressure :: 29.71 in / 1006 hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers
UV :: 1 out of 16
Clouds:
Scattered Clouds 3200 ft / 975 m
Overcast 4100 ft / 1249 m
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation:
33 ft / 10 m
