Elusive Northwest Passage May Open To Shipping As Arctic Ice Cap Shrinks

AP:

Arctic ice has shrunk to the lowest level on record, new satellite images show, raising the possibility that the Northwest Passage that eluded famous explorers will become an open shipping lane.

The European Space Agency said nearly 200 satellite photos this month taken together showed an ice-free passage along northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland, and ice retreating to its lowest level since such images were first taken in 1978.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[Wilburrr]

A very disturbing thread that I find in all of these news stories is the line "sooner than expected." As Carl Sagan used to say, if we need a model for what Earth can look like if we screw it up, we need look no further than Mars. Carl, it looks like we will be there sooner than expected.

[larry278]

Will agnostics & atheists say they are doing a parody of Joyce Kilmer's, "Trees", when they end a poem about much of NJ sinking under the Atlantic, "See god & me can make a swamp become a bay or ocean."?

[Sanjong Thapa]

from the History Channel's "Little Ice Age"

--

Not so long ago, civilization learned that it was no match for just a few degrees drop in temperature. Scientists call it the Little Ice Age--but its impact was anything but small. From 1300 to 1850, a period of cataclysmic cold caused havoc. It froze Viking colonists in Greenland, accelerated the Black Death in Europe, decimated the Spanish Armada, and helped trigger the French Revolution. The Little Ice Age reshaped the world in ways that now seem the stuff of fantasy--New York Harbor froze and people walked from Manhattan to Staten Island, Eskimos sailed kayaks as far south as Scotland, and two feet of snow fell on New England in June and July during "the Year Without a Summer". Could another catastrophic cold snap strike in the 21st century? Leading climatologists offer the latest theories, and scholars and historians recreate the history that could be a glimpse of things to come. Face the cold, hard truth of the past.

http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=173248

[Mercedes]

So, there's no such thing as Global Warming? Anyone who looks can see that we are killing this planet and its plants and animals with our filthy pollution...

[Doug]

Modern environmentalism is a religion.

[BeerHolder]

Reich-wing stupidity is a disease. And I'm sorry to inform you of this but your case is terminal.

[Wilburrr]

oh my god... is it contagious?

[kingcityguru]

If all you globalwarminmongers REALLY believed that the production of CO2 causes global warming and that global warming REALLY is the coming doom of this world then you should be pushing for nuclear energy use for electricity to levels that at least match those of France's 80%. If not, you are just trying to control behaviour and propagate your "religion." The solution to CO2 production in conunction with the economic growth in China and India that will not be denied is nuclear energy--push for it!

[Mike169]

Now we'll be able to tap the riches of the Orient!

[askmeificare]

They better get those ships through quickly. The northern hemisphere going into the cool season. Hopefully, the ships will get through before it freezes over.

[BeerHolder]

askmeificare.

You obviously don't.

[helonias]

So whats so bad about lowing Co2 if there is no such thing as global warming. We are at the apex of oil production from known reserves and this will soon fall, but demand wont, no matter how many yellow ribbons you put on your SUV.

Something will soon give, either we do it now or it will be forces upon us later with much more unpleasant results.

[kati]

This reads as if it's a good thing because of newfound shipping channels that would cut polution and resources! What the hell? And who wrote this?

[lentinelia]

So - this global warming thing is good for business...

[loki]

Hey, I just realized that our government has been working on this global warming problem for many years now. At least back to Reagan years. See, its a long term goal that is just starting to show a little progress.

First, make it so the corporations want to move off shore.

Then, make it so the corporations that stay will only be willing to pay such low wages, that those of us who can find jobs, cant afford to do much, our carbon foot prints decrease exponentially to the lack of jobs and wages!

By 2050 the only jobs left in the US will be clearing the dead polar bear carcuses from the shipping lanes and coast line of the tropical north pole. And that will only last a few years as there will be no more bears to die.

Also, by then all the US corporations will be settled in other countries, and the CEOs, politicians and wealthy will be living in places like Dubia or others like them that cater to the uber-richest every whim. NO riffraff allowed in of course, and they will keep their environment hermetically sealed and clean from all pollutions and harmful chemicals. Wouldnt want to endanger their lives.

So , no one will be able to afford to buy anything much less drive cars, and that means the US will be the lowest emitters of daily pollution in the world. The largest source of pollution in the us by then will be the fumes from the decaying human and animal bodies.

See, they are thinking of the environment. How could we have ever doubted their concern.

[loki]

For people like Doug, and everyone else.
If Global Warming and the environment are not a big deal, like many of the GOP insist, then why would their beloved carriers of the golden idols be getting together to discuss how to be more green and help the environment?? Then again, knowing these types of people, they are having this to plan strategies for lobbying politician to stop any further progress to quell global warmer, while at the same time figuring out how to use being green as a marketing ploy and ream more consumers.
http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/corporateclimateresponse/documents/CorporateClimateResponseChicagoBrochure_017.pdf

We see increasing evidence that US corporations are taking climate change seriously. Here's an example. There might still be enough time to register for Corporate Climate Response, which takes place September 25th and 26th at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Chicago. (The following is quoted from a recent email promotion.)

"Twenty top companies will share their climate change and sustainability strategies at this unprecedented gathering. Caterpillar, Ford, BP America, Abbott, Time Inc, Motorola, Walgreens, Anheuser-Busch, Wal-mart, Dow, McDonalds, IBM, AIG, Excelon, Intel and Baxter Healthcare are among those presenting. Over 200 sustainability professionals have already signed up for this unique green networking opportunity.

The content covers all the fundamentals of climate change strategy: Over the course of the two days, well be discussing carbon footprint and life-cycle analysis, energy efficiency, waste management, fleet management, green power and RECs, carbon offsetting,

[loki]

Oops, sorry, here is the list, that was the Ukraine page.. They are on the list.

http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/ten.php

[loki]

Im back, just had to do this. While eating my pancakes I just ran across the NGO Blacksmith Institute who works on helping 3rd world countries to be more environmentally conscience. Now I realize that republicans are cringing right now, but just wait, it gets better.
Blacksmith just released its TOP 10 List of worst offenders for pollution.

http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/site10i.php