Disappearing Arctic Ice

CNN and other media sources are making this news. They are also stating that most scientists believe it is related to Global Warming. This Group of Scientists doesn't seem to believe global warming is the key cause.

As usual? Conflicting information which leaves us not knowing who to believe. However, I think Greg Holloway, a Scientist involved with the Planet Water research site does make this interesting point to consider:

The problem, he says, is that the Arctic ice is constantly moving, pushed along by Arctic winds. But there is natural fluctuation in the pattern and intensity of these winds. Sometimes they push the ice outward from the North Pole, causing it to jam up mostly against Northern Canada. At other times, the ice stays closer to the pole. This, Holloway argues, is the most likely cause for the apparent thinning. The submarine measurements, he says, were taken at just those spots mostly likely to be thinned by changing Arctic wind patterns. But the ice didn't disappear -- it just moved somewhere else. The total Arctic ice loss, Holloway estimates, is closer to 12 percent, of which maybe 3 percent can be attributed to warmer global temperatures. His conclusion: This small reduction is well within the range of natural variability and may have nothing to do with global warming.

But? You probably won't hear that on CNN.

:-)