-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: September 17, 2007 1:16:22 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: In a Few Decades, No Ice Left in the Arctic
Sea Ice Is Getting Thinner
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070913133001.htm
Science Daily — Large areas of the Arctic sea-ice are only one
metre thick this year, equating to an approximate 50 percent
thinning as compared to the year 2001. These are the initial
results from the latest Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and
Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association lead expedition to the
North Polar Sea.
Amphipods below the sea-Ice. (Credit: Photo: Florian Breier/Alfred
Wegener Institute)
Ads by Google
Advertise on this site
Global Warming Debate
Warming is not a crisis! Gore won't debate. Learn the truth about CO2.
www.globalwarmingheartland.org
California Lemon Law Info
California's Largest Lemon Law Firm Free review and help.
1-800-225-3666
www.CaliforniaLemonLawAttorneys.com
The Secret Oil War
The Truth Behind Oil & the "Real" War Machine. Free, New Report.
EnergyAndCapital.com/Oil_War_Rpt
Experts wrong on warming
When science mags go tabloid they damage faith in science itself
www.thefirstpost.co.uk
Global Warming Facts
Are you worried about climate change? Get the facts.
www.GetEnergyActive.org
Fifty scientists have been on board the Research ship- Polarstern
for two and a half months, their main aim; to carry out research on
the sea-ice areas in the central Arctic. Amongst other things, they
have found out that not only the ocean currents are changing, but
community structures in the Arctic are also altering. Autonomous
measuring-buoys have been placed out, and they will contribute
valuable data, also after the expedition is finished, to the study
of the environmental changes occurring in this region.
“The ice cover in the North Polar Sea is dwindling, the ocean and
the atmosphere are becoming steadily warmer, the ocean currents are
changing” said chief scientist Dr Ursula Schauer, from the Alfred
Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research part of the
Helmholtz community, when commenting on the latest results from the
current expedition. She is currently in the Arctic, underway with
50 Scientists from Germany, Russia, Finland, the Netherlands,
Spain, the USA, Switzerland, Japan, France and China, where they
are investigating ocean and sea-ice conditions.
“We are in the midst of phase of dramatic change in the Arctic, and
the International Polar Year 2007/08 offers us a unique opportunity
to study this dwindling ocean in collaboration with international
researchers” said Schauer. Oceanographers on board the research
ship Polarstern are investigating the composition and circulation
of the water masses, physical characteristics of sea-ice and
transport of biological and geochemical components in ice and
seawater. Sea-ice ecosystems in the seawater and on the ocean floor
will also be a focus of investigations. Scientists will take
sediments from the ocean floor in order to reconstruct the climatic
history of the surrounding continents.
Oceanographic measuring buoys were set out in all regions of the
Arctic ocean for the first time during this International Polar
Year. They are able to drift freely in the Arctic Ocean whilst
collecting data on currents, temperature, and salt content of the
seawater. The buoys will continuously collect data over and send
them back to the scientists via satellite.
In addition, the deployment of a new titanium measuring system
which allows contamination free sample collection of trace elements
for the first time due to its high effectiveness. These studies
will take place within the context of different research projects,
all taking place during the International Polar Year: SPACE
(Synoptic Pan-Arctic Climate and Environment Study), iAOOS
(Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System) and GEOTRACES (Trace
Elements in the Arctic). At the same time, a large component of
the work is supported by the European Union Program DAMOCLES
(Developing Arctic Modelling and Observing Capabilities for Long-
term Environment Studies).
Changes in sea-ice
The thickness of the arctic sea-ice has decreased since 1979, and
at the moment measures about a metre in diameter in the central
Arctic Basin. In addition, oceanographers have found a
particularly high concentration of melt-water in the ocean and a
large number of melt-ponds. These data, collected from on board
the Polarstern, and also from helicopter flights allow the
scientists to better interpret their satellite images.
Sea-Ice biologists from the Institute of Polar Ecology at the
University of Kiel are studying the animals and plants living in
and beneath the ice. They are using the opportunity to investigate
the threatened ecosystem. According to the newest models, the
Arctic could be ice free in less than 50 years in case of further
warming. This may cause the extinction of many organisms that are
adapted to this habitat.
Ocean currents
The Arctic Ocean currents are an important part of global ocean
circulation. Warm water masses flowing in from the Atlantic are
changed in the Arctic through water cooling and ice formation, and
sink to great depths. Constant monitoring by the Alfred-Wegener-
Institute for Polar and Marine Research over the last ten years
have recorded significant changes, and have demonstrated a warming
of the incoming current from the Atlantic Ocean. During this
expedition, the propagation of these warming events along each of
the currents in the North Polar Sea will be investigated.
The large rivers of Siberia and North America transport huge
amounts of freshwater to the Arctic. The freshwater appears to
function as an insulating layer, controling the warmth transfer
between the ocean, the ice and the atmosphere.
The study area stretches from the shelf areas of the Barents Sea,
the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea, across Nansen and Amundsen bays
right up to Makarow Bay.
Between Norway and Siberia and up to the Canadian Bay the
scientists have taken temperature, salinity, and current
measurements at more than 100 places. First results have shown
that the temperatures of the influx of water from the Atlantic are
lower as compared to previous years. The temperatures and salinity
levels in the Arctic deep sea are also slowly changing.
The changes are small here, but the areas go down to great depths,
and enormous water volumes are therefore involved. In order to
follow the circulation patterns in winter, oceanographic measuring
buoys will be attached to ice floes, and continuous measurements
will be taken whilst they float along with the ice. The
measurements will be relayed back via satellite.
In addition to the ocean currents and sea-ice, zooplankton,
sediment samples from the sea floor as well as trace elements will
be taken. Zooplankton are at the base of the food chain for many
marine creatures, and are therefore an important indicator for the
health of the ecosystem. The deposits found on the ocean floor of
the North Polar Sea read like a diary of the history of climate
change for the surrounding continents. Through sediment cores, the
scientists may be able to unlock the key to the glaciation of
northern Siberia.
In addition, the members of the expedition will be able to measure
trace elements from Siberian rivers and shelf areas, that through
polar drift are being pushed towards the Atlantic.
Further information on this project can be found on the German
contribution to the International Polar Year website (http://
www.polarjahr.de).
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
www.ctrl.org
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/
<A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om