Canadian scientists discover new clues to rapid Arctic ice melt
Bob Weber
The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2011 10:34AM EDTLast updated Thursday, Jul. 28, 2011 5:04AM EDT
“We're trying to understand why the ice is melting so fast,” said Simon Boxall of the Catlin Arctic Survey. “It's not just down to simple warming. There are more complicated processes.”
When projections from the panel were compared with actual observations, the authors found that between 1953 and 2006 the sea ice was retreating three times faster than it should have. Between 1979 and 2006, when satellite data was available, the actual retreat was twice as fast as climate models predicted.
The report concluded that sea ice retreat is 30 years ahead of where scientists thought it would be.
“What we're seeing is that (fresh meltwater) being taken away from the surface and replaced by slightly warmer water,” said Mr. Boxall. “The evidence is that the surface waters are (now) slightly warmer.”
Canadian scientists discover new clues to rapid Arctic ice melt - The Globe and Mail
Al
Bob Weber
The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2011 10:34AM EDTLast updated Thursday, Jul. 28, 2011 5:04AM EDT
“We're trying to understand why the ice is melting so fast,” said Simon Boxall of the Catlin Arctic Survey. “It's not just down to simple warming. There are more complicated processes.”
When projections from the panel were compared with actual observations, the authors found that between 1953 and 2006 the sea ice was retreating three times faster than it should have. Between 1979 and 2006, when satellite data was available, the actual retreat was twice as fast as climate models predicted.
The report concluded that sea ice retreat is 30 years ahead of where scientists thought it would be.
“What we're seeing is that (fresh meltwater) being taken away from the surface and replaced by slightly warmer water,” said Mr. Boxall. “The evidence is that the surface waters are (now) slightly warmer.”
Canadian scientists discover new clues to rapid Arctic ice melt - The Globe and Mail
Al
Comment