Research and analysis of the Arctic ice cap region is showing the amount of ice has reached a new record low in recent observed history. The record low level of ice in 2008 breaks the prior record set just in 2007. This trend is highly disturbing. While it is not possible to firmly forecast future years and if and how much further shrink will occur, it is almost impossible not to believe the cap will continue to diminish and perhaps precipitously. Some scientists see the strong probability of an ice free North Pole and most of the adjacent seas as soon as 2012 or 2013 during summer months. The ramifications of the melt thus far is likely to be a winter that has less cold extremes and with differing patterns of snowfall or rainfall. While that may be a positive for some, it will be disastrous for others in respect to crops, wildlife, fisheries, forests, and hunting. This rapid meltoff of Arctic ice is the most visible sign of global warming and climate change, and the looming possibillity of massive methane releases from newly thawed soils on the surface as well as the seabed could jolt global warming to extremes in a matter of a few years that are largely unimaginable by most. Stay tuned, its going to be a very, very bumpy ride.-
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=5941683&page=1
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http://www.physorg.com/news141322790.html
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http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/38328
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