Rapid Arctic Ice Melt Down

Researchers are developing theories that may tie at least some of the erratic weather behavior to global warming.  Specifically, suspicion is focused these days on drastic decline of sea ice in the Arctic, which is believed to be directly correlated to global warming (a great contributor of the human release of greenhouse gases).

As the planet warms, more energy and water are entereing the atmoshpere.  A changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, unprecedented severe weather conditions and climate events.  Arctic sea ice is disappearing this summer much faster than scientists expected;  100,000 sq km per day. However, this pace nearly doubled for a few days in early August during a major Arctic cyclonic storm. The summer of 2012 has been characterized by variable conditions.

Global warming, has been extensively studied at the University of Fairbanks in Alaska.  It shows that warming has a cascading affect on the land, vegetation, animals, weather and humans.  In Nome, Alaska, the rainfall total in July was 6.72 inches, which is the second highest ever.  And August is looking like it may be a rain goal setting month too. 

Most people are aware of the issue that global warming has posed on polar bears, walrus and Native Alaskans.  The hungry bears are migrating from the ice into Native Eskimo villages and such searching for food. There are seven billion of us on our planet. Each and every one of us is affected by the health of the Arctic: by reflecting the sun’s rays off its ice, the Arctic shapes our weather patterns and the food we grow and eat.

But the Arctic is the frontline of our warming climate - heating up twice as fast as anywhere else. It’s also the frontline of the oil industry - one of the dirty, dead fuels responsible for the melting in the first place.  By stopping the new oil rush in the Arctic we are creating the conditions for a radical change in how we power our lives, accelerating the clean energy revolution that will fuel the future for our children.  Go to http://www.savethearctic.org/

http://vimeo.com/44317362