Tuesday, 2 September 2008

For the first time in human history...

... it's possible to circumnavigate the North Pole.

The problem here, of course, is a positive feedback cycle - open water aborbs sunlight whereas ice reflects it. Thus the prediction that we will wave bye bye to the Arctic ice-cap entirely in summers.

Sorta sucks to be a polar bear.

Now watch what happens with the Antarctic ice cap (= sea level change) and with the possible release of Arctic methane deposits (= another positive feedback cycle). And I'm sorta wondering what the fuck happens to Thermohaline circulation with the icecap gone.

But, of course, global warming is all a myth and a conspiracy...

1 comment:

JMBC said...

The bears have been seen swimming to shore - a long distance when there's no ice, collapsing on the beach and sleeping like the dead for days. Then its up and off the the breeding grounds of the seals, where they didn't usually hunt, I suppose, being better in water than on land? Fewer encounters with bigger, meaner bulls? (I suppose I should do some further research)

Also, heard a report of a polar/grizzly mix showing up recently. Yes, they are related - polars are derived from grizzlies - but its rare that the grizzly goes that far north, but food sources on the tundra are not as plentiful as it is drying up - anyway, the gene pool is mixing again. Sorry I don't have a cite for you. If I find one I'll send it on.

But no, nothing to worry about, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...