Clipmarks | jetcloud's 'north pole' clips

Arctic seabed afire with lava-spewing volcanoes

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:32:08 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

The Arctic seabed is as explosive geologically as it is politically judging by the "fountains" of gas and molten lava that have been blasting out of underwater volcanoes near the North Pole.

"Explosive volatile discharge has clearly been a widespread, and ongoing, process," according to an international team that sent unmanned probes to the strange fiery world beneath the Arctic ice.

They returned with images and data showing that red-hot magma has been rising from deep inside the earth and blown the tops off dozens of submarine volcanoes, four kilometres below the ice. "Jets or fountains of material were probably blasted one, maybe even two, kilometres up into the water," says geophysicist Robert Sohn of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who led the expedition.

The team explored the volcanoes last summer as the Russians were planting a flag on the nearby sea floor triggering an international flap over ownership of the seabed.

Tags: arctic, volcanoes

North Pole could be ice free in 2008

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:11:44 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: environment.newscientist.com

You know when climate change is biting hard when instead of a vast expanse of snow the North Pole is a vast expanse of water. This year, for the first time, Arctic scientists are preparing for that possibility.

"The set-up for this summer is disturbing," says Mark Serreze, of the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). A number of factors have this year led to most of the Arctic ice being thin and vulnerable as it enters its summer melting season.

In September 2007, Arctic sea ice reached a record low, opening up the fabled North-West passage that runs from Greenland to Alaska.

[Video]

"There is this thin first-year ice even at the North Pole at the moment," says Serreze. "This raises the spectre – the possibility that you could become ice free at the North Pole this year."

Tags: north pole, arctic ice, canada, climate change

Two Russian strategic bombers fly along Alaska, Canada coasts

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:00:24 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks:
"Russia resumed patrolling by long-range aviation in remote areas after a
17-year pause, per decision by the supreme commander-in-chief, President Vladimir Putin.

Russian long-range aircraft have flown to the air space of remote areas several times in the past two months.

In mid-July, four Tu-95MS bombers flew through the air space near Great Britain.

Their flight provoked numerous comments in British media outlets, because it coincided with the diplomatic row over the expulsion of four British diplomats.

In early August, two Russian strategic bombers flew to the U.S. base Guam in the Pacific Ocean.

As a rule, the flights by Russian long-range aviation are accompanied by NATO fighter jets which are watching the Russian bombers.

Earlier on Thursday, Drobyshevsky said more than 90 planes and helicopters were involved in a tactical exercise of the far eastern Air Force and Air Defense formation.

"The far eastern Air Force and Air Defense formation has detailed mor

Clip Source: www.globalresearch.ca

Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers, within the scope of a long-range aviation drill, flew along the coasts of Alaska and Canada and returned to their home airfield via the North Pole on Thursday, Air Force spokesman Col Alexander Drobyshevsky told Itar-Tass.

"A pair of Tu-95MS planes flew along a large range along the coasts of Alaska and Canada and, returned home via the North Pole. The bombers were refueled in mid air by an Il-78 tanker aircraft. The average flight duration made up some 17 hours. The aircraft flew more than 13,000 kilometers," Drobyshevsky said.

"During refueling, each Tu-95MS took on board 30 tonnes of fuel, a record high amount since the Soviet era," the spokesman said.

"Another pair of Tu-95MS flew around Greenland into the air space over eastern Atlantic Ocean. The average duration of flight was some 12 hours," Drobyshevsksy said.

"Tu-95MS flights were made in accordance with air patrol plans. During the mission, the bombers were accompanied by NATO planes,"

Tags: aircraft, canada, military

‘stunned’ Scientists

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 04:54:17 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: Similar entries
* Canada's typical summer heats up, especially in the Arctic
* Arctic sea ice retreats to record low by end of summer with ominious consequences for global warming
* Arctic Passage - Step Right Up, Sail on Through
* Arctic to Skeptics: 'Read My Tips'
* Hot Time -- Bad Timing
The good news is that solutions to global warming exist, check out Ross Gelbspan’s Green Sheet and his vision for a pathway to climate peace. Or, check out the latest below:
Federal report scorns Canada's climate-change plan for exaggerating carbon cuts
*
Scientists ‘stunned’ as Arctic sea ice shrinks to 30-year low
*
Green groups sue Canadian government over Kyoto targets
*
John Marburger, Climate Alarmist?
*
Recent books on global warming; Neros at their fiddling...

Clip Source: www.desmogblog.com

Bill Miller

Scientists ‘stunned’ as Arctic sea ice shrinks to 30-year low

21 Sep 07

Ice in the Arctic has melted to its lowest level since record keeping began nearly 30 years ago, reaching a minimum area on September 16 that was 1.2 million square kilometres below the previous mark from 2005.

Scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder's National Snow and Ice DataCenter said sea ice extent appears to have reached its minimum with the chances of it reaching a lower level unlikely this year.

"The amount of ice loss this year absolutely stunned us, because it didn't just beat all previous records, it completely shattered them," said senior scientist Mark Serreze.

Earlier, Environment Canada reported that last summer was the seventh-warmest on record, with temperatures 0.9 C higher than average. Canada's all-time high was 1.8 C above normal in 1998.

U.S. Canada University of Colorado Environment Canada Arctic global warming climate change

Tags: arctic, climate change, global warming, north pole

contrail.gi.alaska.edu

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 04:23:33 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: Condensation trails (contrails) formed by aircrafts are sometimes visible from the ground for several
hours. Numerous contrails are formed in the vicinity of main air- traffic routes; due to additional
spreading effects contrails may contribute significantly to the total cloud cover. Continuous
observational methods are used to study the formation of contrails in the subarctic setting of
Fairbanks, Alaska. Since March of 2000 a contrail database has been established, which includes
contrail characteristics, Federal Aviation Administration flight data, and atmospheric measurements
derived from radiosonde ascents at Fairbanks International Airport. The contrail analysis is based on
all-sky digital camera imagery and direct observations of aircrafts.

Daily Overflights for Fairbanks, AK airspace.

Note: Page was updated for the last time by Martin Stuefer, 13.Apr.2006.
The flight data is no longer being updated. However, the flight archive is available.
http://contrail.gi.al

Clip Source: contrail.gi.alaska.edu

On Oct 17th 2003, the United States Air Force conducted manuevers in the Fairbanks area that resulted in many spectacular contrails. The formations of jets ranged in number from 3 to 7 and some examples of the resulting contrails are shown below. Also shown is the output of the UAF Contrail Forecast based on atmospheric sounding measurements at Fairbanks Airport showing the contrail layer for that day.

Click on the image for larger view.
Photos taken October 17, 2003 by Martin Stuefer

Tags: aircraft, arctic, climate, climate change, cloud, contrails, global warming, jetclouds, north pole, spacejunk

Belching British Bogs Fueled Ancient Global Warming

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:28:29 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "Methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, so a big and rapid release of methane from wetland deposits would represent a huge and rapid positive feedback,"
"There is a great deal of methane generated in wetlands by microbial activity. Warming or more precipitation could cause rates of microbially mediated methane production to increase,"
"Methane already appears to be seeping out of once frozen bogs in Siberia."
Warmer, wetter weather is likely to promote methane release in wetlands worldwide"

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

The emissions probably amplified an ancient and extreme global warming event that heated Arctic Ocean waters to a balmy 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius).

Warm, wet weather likely accelerated the rotting of plant material, which in turn triggered the methane burps from the Cobham Lignite bog, the researchers said.

Assuming that other wetlands responded in a similar way, such large amounts of methane could explain the extreme global warming seen at the time.

"If the increase in methane emissions were widespread, the increased methane flux from these settings could have amplified the warming occurring at this time," Pancost said.

Because methane is a key greenhouse gas, some scientists worry that a similar scenario today could trigger a runaway greenhouse effect. (Get the facts about global warming.)

Continued on Next Page >>

Tags: arctic, climate change, global warming, north pole

Arctic sea ice cover at record low

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:51:14 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: " Most researchers had anticipated that the complete disappearance of the Arctic ice pack during summer months would happen after the year 2070, he said, but now, "losing summer sea ice cover by 2030 is not unreasonable."

Scores of peer-reviewed scientific studies have documented a steady, worldwide decline in ice cover, from the sea-bound ice covering the North Pole to the vast, land-based ice sheets that cover the Antarctic continent. Glaciers, from Greenland to the Alps to Mount Kilimanjaro near the equator, also have been vanishing."

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

It is possible that Arctic sea ice could decline even further this year before the onset of winter.

BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- Ice cover in the Arctic Ocean, long held to be an early warning of a changing climate, has shattered the all-time low record this summer, according to scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder.

Using satellite data and imagery, NSIDC now estimates the Arctic ice pack covers 4.24 million square kilometers (1.63 million square miles) -- equal to just less than half the size of the United States. This figure is about 20 percent less than the previous all-time low record of 5.32 million square kilometers (2.05 million square miles) set in September 2005

The loss of land-based ice is predicted to lead to a future rise in sea levels.

A substantial rise in sea level could imperil low-lying areas from Bangladesh to Miami, Florida, to Lower Manhattan, and could magnify the damage from landfalling hurricanes and cyclones.

Tags: arctic, climate change, global warming, north pole

Arctic sea ice retreats to record low by end of summer with ominious consequences for global warming

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:34:55 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.desmogblog.com

The National Snow and Ice Data Center data showed sea ice extent for August 8 as 5.8m sq km (2.2m sq miles), compared to the 1979-2000 August average of 7.7m sq km (3.0m sq miles). The current record low was recorded in 2005, when Arctic sea ice covered just 5.32m sq km (2.09m sq miles).

Since the melting season runs until the middle of September, scientists believe this summer will end with the lowest ice cover on record.

Scientists now think we are starting to see a feedback pattern, with a little bit more melting during summer and a little less recovery of ice during the winter. This is expected to speed the decline of Arctic ice with major consequences for wildlife, especially polar bears, which traverse ice-floes in search of food.

Globally, Earth would lose a major reflective surface and so absorb more solar energy, accelerating climatic change around the world.

U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center Arctic sheet ice global warming climate change

Tags: arctic, climate change, global warming, north pole

Canada Post’s flag flew at North Pole first.

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:07:08 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.canada.com

In 1999, MacKenzie, then 77, was the oldest person in the world to make the trek to the North Pole. And when he finished skiing from the 89th parallel, he pulled three flags from his pack -- one for Canada Post, one for the Year of the Elder, and another for Goulbourn Township, the place he called home.

He still holds the Guinness world record for being the oldest person to trek to the North Pole.

MacKenzie has seen the Arctic change over time. During his last trek, through a southern route of the Northwest Passage last year, there was hardly any ice.

Robert Miller, a professor at the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., said Russia's attempt to prove scientifically that the North Pole is part of Russian territory has been dismissed and mocked internationally, so they planted their flag to rely on the doctrine of discovery, which the Europeans used to justify their takeover of land that was empty or occupied by people they considered pagans.

Tags: north pole

Russia Seeks to Claim Arctic Mineral Wealth

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:26:52 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: The Arctic until now has been considered international territory. Nations with land bordering the Arctic Ocean, including the United States, reject Moscow's contention that the area could belong to Russia. Denmark, which controls Greenland, is cooperating with Canada in arguing that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of North America, not Russia."

Clip Source: www.voanews.com

There is growing optimism about the Arctic maritime passage that runs across the top of Russia from the Bering Straits to the north Atlantic due to global warming (12 July 2007 file photo from Russia's Chukotka region)

A Russian naval expedition is sailing toward the North Pole to explore the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in an effort to stake Moscow's claim to territory that may contain significant undersea deposits of oil and natural gas. VOA Correspondent Peter Fedynsky has this report from the Russian capital.

The ship's mission is to prove that large areas of the Arctic belong to Russia. Moscow contends that a large undersea geological formation in the area, known as the Lomonosov Ridge, is an extension of continental Russia. According to international law, nations may claim control of areas within 320 kilometers of their continental shelves.

Tags: north pole

British man calls North Pole swim a tragedy

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:00:35 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.ctv.ca

TORONTO -- A British swimmer who says he wants to wake up politicians around the world to the threat of climate change has successfully completed a kilometre-long swim in the freezing water of the North Pole.

Lewis Gordon Pugh swam Sunday for 18 minutes and 50 seconds in temperatures of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius in just Speedo briefs, cap and goggles.

"I am obviously ecstatic to have succeeded but this swim is a triumph and a tragedy,'' the 37-year-old British lawyer said after coming out of the water.

"A triumph that I could swim in such ferocious conditions but a tragedy that it's possible to swim at the North Pole.''

Pugh said he hoped that his swim will make world leaders take climate change seriously.

"The decisions which they make over the next few years will determine the biodiversity of our world,'' he said.

Tags: climate change, global warming, north pole

Canadian Ships to Enforce Arctic Soverignty

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:49:15 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "The ships will have a helicopter landing pad able to accommodate the new CH-148 Cyclone choppers due in the fleet over the coming years. In addition to their purchase cost, the government expects to spend another $4.3 billion to operate and maintain them over their 25-year lifespan.

""The world is changing. The ongoing discovery of the north's resource riches couple with the potential impact of climate change has made the region a growing area of interest and concern," Harper said.""

Clip Source: www.thestar.com

OTTAWA — Canada's Navy will be getting to up to eight new armed Arctic patrol ships, worth $3.1 billion, to help enforce sovereignty in the country's vast northern reaches, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today.

The receding ice cover is making the Arctic waterways more accessible to international shipping than ever before, making it imperative that Canada stake its claim to the region, Harper said today.

"Either we use it or we lose it," Harper said as he announced the acquisition at CFB Esquimalt, a base near Victoria, B.C., that is home to the navy's Pacific fleet.

"This government intends to use it, because Canada's Arctic is central to our identity as a northern nation," he said.

Tags: climate change, climate, global warming, north pole

Putin's Arctic invasion: Russia lays claim to the North Pole - and all its gas, oil, and diamonds

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:03:06 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: Sergei Priamikov, of Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, said the notion was "strange" and warned other countries could make counter claims.

Canada "could say that the Lomonosov ridge is part of the Canadian shelf, which means Russia should in fact belong to Canada, together with the whole of Eurasia", he observed drily.

A diplomatic source said that Russia was "seeking to secure its grip on oil and gas supplies for decades to come. Putin wants a strong Russia, and Western dependence for oil and gas supplies is a key part of his strategy. He no longer cares if his strategy upsets the West".

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made an astonishing bid to grab a vast chunk of the Arctic, giving himself claim to its vast potential oil, gas and mineral wealth.

His audacious argument that an underwater Russian ridge is linked to the North Pole is likely to lead to an international outcry.

Under current international law, the countries ringing the Arctic - Russia, Canada, the US, Norway, Denmark (Greenland) - are limited to a 200 mile economic zone around their coastlines.

Currently, a UN convention stipulates that none of these countries can claim jurisdiction of the Arctic seabed because the geological structure does not match that of the surrounding continental shelves.

A previous attempt to claim the oil and gas resources beyond its 200 miles zone five years ago was rejected - but this time Moscow intends to make a far more serious submission to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

Tags: north pole