History/Geography NEWS! (viking, kings, years, Columbus)

[WildWestDude]

"The North Pole has become an island for the first time in human history.
Startling satellite pictures taken three days ago show that melting ice has opened up the fabled North-West and North-East Passages - making it possible to sail around the Arctic ice cap."

from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti....html?ITO=1490


Is this "THE" sign of global warming?

Please discuss below......

[Trudy Rose]

How do they know it's the first time in human history??? There have been weather cycles both warm and cold forever. At one time Greenland was alot more hospitable that today. I think there is "Global Warming" but not caused entirely by humans. And is probably not nearly as catastrophic as some would have us believe A few years ago the big threat was "Global Cooling" and we'd all best stock up on firewood!!

[WildWestDude]

I am not a scientist, but in order for someone to say "first time in human history" there must be some kind of evidence to prove so.
The question is if it was caused by human actions or not.
I believe that we do indeed have something to do with it, but to what extent I can't determine.

[Trudy Rose]

This could be a benefit from it...
Global warming creates oil exploration rush to Arctic | ScrippsNews

[WildWestDude]

Sure, more fossil burning for our pathetic world energy and environmental crisis

Anyway, I do believe that there's a method to determine the age of ice, similar to doing a core sample from a tree. By this they could determine that the North Pole has at least for the history of humans been a land/ice bridge.

[Saintmarks]

Either you misquoted or the article should be stated "for the first time in recorded history." Its like when the weather man says the hottest or coldest day on record, they have maybe a 100 or so years of records to go by. Who knows how hot or cold it was in all the years preceding?

Like Trudey said, Greenland was more hospitable back when the Vikings first settled it. There is also evidence of the British Isles being warmer and wines produced in regions that cannot sustain vineyards now.

This Global Warming debate is amazing only in that it is so widely held as indisputable fact and that the cause is even more indisputably believed to be man. One volcano eruption can produce more havoc on the atmosphere than all our manly sins combined. Let's have a sensible look at this from all viewpoints and not just the Al Gore PC crowd of guilt inducers.

[Trudy Rose]

1860 was known as "The Year Without a Summer" due to the eruption of Mt. Tambora.
Year Without a Summer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It wreaked havoc in the Northern Hemisphere.

[MICoastieMom]

Originally Posted by WildWestDude

"The North Pole has become an island for the first time in human history.
Startling satellite pictures taken three days ago show that melting ice has opened up the fabled North-West and North-East Passages - making it possible to sail around the Arctic ice cap."

from The North Pole becomes an 'island' for the first time in history as ice melts | Mail Online


Is this "THE" sign of global warming?

Please discuss below......

Where's Christopher Columbus when you need him?

All kidding aside, it does seem to be a reason for concern and further investigation.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by Trudeyrose

1860 was known as "The Year Without a Summer" due to the eruption of Mt. Tambora.
Year Without a Summer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It wreaked havoc in the Northern Hemisphere.

Trudeyrose, Is the Geography thread with the fun questions winding down? I just found it a couple of days ago and had the most fun starting from page one (now up to 50+) and seeing if I could get the answers without looking them up. I answered the current question (at least I think I did) on the last page and haven't heard a response. Looks like this was going strong last spring and perhaps now is losing steam. Saw you were the one that started it and perhaps you know of its current status.

[Trudy Rose]

Well... I started "Who Am I?"...but for that and "Geography" when someone gets the answer, the "winner" asks the next question...avoids confusion of having 20 questions floating around But if the one who asked the question does not get back in a few days...anyone can jump in..Boy, you sure are ambitious to have gone through so many pages!!! You should get a Prize for that!!!