That was an amazing program actually, in how they displayed the Whale Hunt and the Effort which goes into it. I have always found their Hardiness and
Sense of Community to be truly amazing in the Native Villages of the Arctic.
However, in the end they had the elder, Arnold Brower (86 Years Old- God Bless the guy, he passed away soon after as well), state how as a Child they
had Ice in July, whereas now-a-days they have Water in July (In terms of Oceanic Pack Ice).
But, I was recently reviewing some photographs of Barrow, AK in the Summertime, and this is what I found:
Barrow, AK-Late Summer (Most Minimum Extent of Sea Ice)-1883:
Barrow, AK-Late Summer (Most Minimum Extent of Sea Ice)-2008:
Do you see much of a difference?
Now here are some Photographs of Barrow, AK during the 2008 Summer Thaw Season:
Barrow, AK-Early Summer (Nearing Warmest Time of Year)-2008:
Barrow, AK-Early Summer (Nearing Warmest Time of Year)-2008:
Barrow, AK-Early Summer (Nearing Warmest Time of Year)-2008:
Barrow, AK-Mid Summer (Hottest Time of Year)-2008:
Barrow, AK-Mid Summer (Hottest Time of Year)-2008:
Barrow, AK-Mid Summer (Hottest Time of Year-Notice No Ice)-1960:
Barrow, AK-Season Unknown-1950 (USN Exercises-Notice Open Water):
So from the Photographic evidence you can see how the Ice Coverage has changed Very Little over the years in Barrow, AK.
I do not doubt in what Mr. Brower said, I only wonder about the context in which his statement was shown and/or the fact that during his Childhood
there might have in fact been a few years of Extra Abundant Ice (The Oceanic Current Cycle in the Arctic is Six Years).