Barrow ice question (North Pole: university, live, moving)
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I was looking at the sea ice camera today, and I decided to revisit the older ice year cycles. I noticed the camera was in a different location the first few years. I also noticed the ice was forming in October, but the past few years it seems to have been formomg in November. Is this due to the current location of the camera? Is there really that large of a differance in ice formation over the past 10 years? I wish they could have left the camera is one place to make it easier to judge, but I think their office moved? Any input would be appriciated.
Go to this link here and watch the first video. That's Geoff Carroll, the wildlife biologist for the entire North Slope with Alaska Fish and Game. He's a very impressive man. He also made it to the North Pole by sled dog in 1986. In the first video there, he discusses the changes that have happened with the ice, and how it's forming very late now. He also gives a great deal of fantastic information about the sea ice regarding landfast ice, pressure ridge buildup that used to be caused by Fall storms and lock the landfast ice to the shore, etc. Really worth the five minutes of your time to watch that video. Hell, I would recommend watching all of them actually. And they've got interviews with lots of Arctic folks on that website, I just linked you to Geoff Caroll's specific page to answer the specific question.
Well I have lived out on that ice.. I know from what I have seen. With my own eyes. The ice moves in cycles. During the 1980's We had to go out 10 miles to find the lead opening. Each year, the lead got closer and closer. 7 miles, 5 miles 3 miles. During the 1990's we were whaling from land. Then the lead began moving out, further and further for many years. 2003 was 10 miles out. Now; in 2011 the process begins once again. The lead is now getting closer and closer again.
(2000-20 miles out), (2003)10 miles, 7 miles and the last time I was whaling 2009 - 4 miles out. 2011 1 mile out.
Same cycles repeating themselves as they have done for hundreds of years
Go to this link here and watch the first video. That's Geoff Carroll, the wildlife biologist for the entire North Slope with Alaska Fish and Game. He's a very impressive man. He also made it to the North Pole by sled dog in 1986. In the first video there, he discusses the changes that have happened with the ice, and how it's forming very late now. He also gives a great deal of fantastic information about the sea ice regarding landfast ice, pressure ridge buildup that used to be caused by Fall storms and lock the landfast ice to the shore, etc. Really worth the five minutes of your time to watch that video. Hell, I would recommend watching all of them actually. And they've got interviews with lots of Arctic folks on that website, I just linked you to Geoff Caroll's specific page to answer the specific question.
Very interesting information Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SityData
Well I have lived out on that ice.. I know from what I have seen. With my own eyes. The ice moves in cycles. During the 1980's We had to go out 10 miles to find the lead opening. Each year, the lead got closer and closer. 7 miles, 5 miles 3 miles. During the 1990's we were whaling from land. Then the lead began moving out, further and further for many years. 2003 was 10 miles out. Now; in 2011 the process begins once again. The lead is now getting closer and closer again.
(2000-20 miles out), (2003)10 miles, 7 miles and the last time I was whaling 2009 - 4 miles out. 2011 1 mile out.
Same cycles repeating themselves as they have done for hundreds of years
I agree the earth is cycling, but it still seems dramatic.
Personally I think we may be getting ready to enter a mini ice age due to the cycle of the sun, but what do I know?
This graph tells the story pretty well, I think. It shows that as Eves said, the ice does indeed move in cycles, but overall ice cover is in a decline.
Figure 2. Passive microwave-derived (SMMR/SSM/I) sea ice extent for the Northern Hemisphere expressed as departures from monthly means. Image courtesy of National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder.
And Spazkat you might be right about the ice age thing. There's a group of climatologists who firmly believe that we are indeed about to enter another ice age. What they describe is catastrophic though: snowbanks the size of tall buildings, everything frozen, 40 below temps in Tennessee, etc. Basically, it would make it damn near impossible for any number of humans to survive for very long. Only very specialized species would make it. I love winter, but I don't want that!
And Spazkat you might be right about the ice age thing. There's a group of climatologists who firmly believe that we are indeed about to enter another ice age. What they describe is catastrophic though: snowbanks the size of tall buildings, everything frozen, 40 below temps in Tennessee, etc. Basically, it would make it damn near impossible for any number of humans to survive for very long. Only very specialized species would make it. I love winter, but I don't want that!
Due to what? I have read about colder temps due to the lack of solar activity or the climate warming so much that is shuts down the gulf stream, which would cause an ice age. I am just wondering what these scientists think. Serious inquiry-I love reading about this kind of stuff.
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