i would think the effects of a complete meltdown would be a little more severe then what they are right now... Thats alot of cold water in a warm ocean.
just my 2 cents

That is a pretty sensational thing to say. I have never heard of "The head of the Norwegian International Polar Year Secretariat" so I wonder how "official" of a title that really is. Hey, it could be true but it seems like a pretty drastic thing to go on record with.

I believe he's looking at old data and doesn't know what is currently going on with the ice. Maybe I've been lied to and the ice hasn't reformed that thick this winter. At any rate, I don't think the ice is melting at a faster rate now since the northern hemisphere seems to be slighter colder. Maybe next year, the next solar cycle will be in full swing and it will be melting at a faster rate. The next solar cycle is supposed to be the strongest one yet I heard.

Reading these threads discussing global warming, global cooling is like a bunch of guys debating whether or not the stock market is going up or down based on only a few recent readings that indicate the contrary of what it has been doing.

I wouldn't put much faith in that article. It looks like media damage control to me. Look at this nonsense in the article..

According to a UN report last year, the world's average temperature could rise by as much as 6 degrees centigrade by the end of the century, causing serious harm to ecosystems worldwide.

There is absolutely no basis for it. Just more IPCC propaganda.

If you live in the keys or any other low lying area I'd suggest bail. In my humble opiion. Can you imagine a major antarctica shift? Studies have implied the consequences.


[edit on 3-3-2008 by jpm1602]

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Check out how much ice has melted in the Arctic between 2005 and 2007.

Image: National Snow and Ice Data Center

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thats insane, in 2 years it has melted by as much as a half, or maybe 3/5's

give it another warm summer and i have no doubts that there will be serious consiquenses. seeing as i live in a coastal basin, i think that such melting could cause some problems, depending on how rapid this situation could cause some real sea level transgression.
if this is happening in a similar pace down south then id say pack your bags and prepare to climb up hill, then buy some winter clothing.



[edit on 5-3-2008 by funny_pom]

One thing those images don't tell is when were they taken? Was one taken after winter and one before winter? And since the level has supposedly recovered after this winter I'd have to assume the image was from summer 2007. When was the 2005 image taken?

Rather cavalier of the important scientist to go throwing predictions around like that but at least he qualified his gamble with an "if".

Given global temperatures have declined significantly in the last 12 months and that solar activity is down the claim seems unlikely.

This news is alarming to say the least! But I can't see that it's going to be supported by any scientists whose source of income is dependent in any way by the government or big business... or both.

Afterall, did the gov't tell us about that highly contagious Ebola virus outbreak in Reston, Virgina back in 1989? Nope. And why not? This is just one example of how we should expect our gov't to react to potentially catastrophic news like this where millions of lives are at stake.

So the icecaps are melting... no big deal right?? I think NOT. Think about it.



[edit on 5-3-2008 by Palasheea]

If it does disappear, despite whatever catastrophes might result, this would be good for the shipping industry as long as Canada and Russia don't go to war.

I wish people would come to realize that climate change is a fact of life on earth. There were climate changes before humans evolved. There were climate changes after we evolved and there will continue to be climate changes even if it hare lips every cat in Georgia.

Adaptation is the key to life on earth. Adapt or die.

[edit on 2008/6/12 by GradyPhilpott]