Posted by Target on 5/7/2009, 11:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Early Arctic Melt?"

Something seems wrong with the satellite. I hope they can fix it soon. --Previous Message-- : the decline rate slowed quite a bit in April : per this - but still it's a "decline : rate" : : http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/ : : "Conditions in context : : The decline rate for the month of April was : the third slowest on record. The Arctic lost : sea ice cover at a rate of 27,300 square : kilometers per day (10,500 square miles), : compared to an average of 41,600 square : kilometers (16,000 square miles) per day for : 1979 to 2000. Ice extent was well above : normal in the Bering Sea, but below normal : in the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. : : For the past few years, Arctic sea ice : extent for most months has been more than : two standard deviations below the 1979 to : 2000 mean, particularly in summer. Two : standard deviations provide an estimate of : the expected range of natural variability. : Because of cooler than average temperatures, : Arctic sea ice extent at the end of April : 2009 was within the expected range of : natural variability." : : : --Previous Message-- : This might just be an aberration of the : imagery equipment, but it may also be an : indication of an early melt of sea ice in : the Arctic. : : If these images are valid then the 2009 : melting of Arctic ice is starting at least : one week earlier than the last two years. : : : : http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/climo.html : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :