Now, this isn't another global warming thread - this is a comment on the effects. It looks like one effect will be availability of the incredibly rich oil deposits under what was once permafrost. Russia may well get a milder climate, as well. A successful Russia will really threaten the current balance of power - taking us back to the cold war days, even while we continue the War on terror. With a massive debt, and exhausted armed forces, looks like we may not be the 'only superpower' for long.


Scientists Say Arctic Sea Ice Levels Are at a Record Low and Still Dropping
08-17-2007 6:40 PM
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- There was less sea ice in the Arctic on Friday than ever before on record, and the melting is continuing, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported.

"Today is a historic day," said Mark Serreze, a senior research scientist at the center. "This is the least sea ice we've ever seen in the satellite record and we have another month left to go in the melt season this year."

Satellite measurements showed 2.02 million square miles of ice in the Arctic, falling below the Sept. 21, 2005, record minimum of 2.05 million square miles, the agency said. (A mere 30,000 square miles, if you can't do the math.

Sea ice is particularly low in the East Siberian side of the Arctic and the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, the center reported.

Ice in the Canadian Archipelago is also quite low. Along the Atlantic side of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice extent is not as unusually low, but there is still less than normal, according to the center located in Boulder, Colo.

The snow and ice center is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado. It receives support from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation.

Scientists began monitoring the extent of Arctic sea ice in the 1970s when satellite images became available.

The polar regions have long been of concern to climate specialists studying global warming because those regions are expected to feel the impact of climate change sooner and to a greater extent than other areas.

Sea ice in the Arctic helps keep those regions cool by reflecting sunlight that might be absorbed by darker land or ocean surfaces. Exposed to direct sun, for example, instead of reflecting 80 percent of the sunlight, the ocean absorbs 90 percent. That causes the ocean to heat up and raises Arctic temperatures.

Unusually clear sky conditions have prevailed in the Arctic in June and July, promoting more sunshine at the time when the sun is highest in the sky over the region.

The center said this led to an unusually high amount of solar energy being pumped onto the Arctic ice surface, accelerating the melting process. Fairly strong winds also brought in some warm air from the south.

But, Serreze said in a telephone interview, while some natural variability is involved in the melting "we simply can't explain everything through natural processes."

"It is very strong evidence that we are starting to see an effect of greenhouse warming," he said.

The puzzling thing, he said, is that the melting is actually occurring faster than computer climate models have predicted.

Several years ago he would have predicted a complete melt of Arctic sea ice in summer would occur by the year 2070 to 2100, Serreze said. But at the rates now occurring, a complete melt could happen by 2030, he said Friday.

There will still be ice in winter, he said, but it could be gone in summer.

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And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, Jan. 29, 2007

global warming is a myth however...

Gradts to the russians if they make more money capitalism is good for all

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Hardcore Conservative !

I said Conservative not necessarly Republican or Democrat. Liberals are in both of those parties.

Oh,yeah, anyone else successful is big threat. So that is your vision of the US - this country can only be considered great and superior, if the rest of the world is stuck in problems. In other words, you feel yourself to be loser, if surrounding people are ok. Poor devil...

No, thanks. The exausted armed forces, massive debt - what a brilliant and attractive horizonts for our country! Hurry up and join the club of superpowers - make your future today!

I want nothing but the best for the Russian people.

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Agreed, but they're going to have to learn to get it for themselves.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Global warming is a scientific fact. The scientific community has also agreed that man is responsible - the debate is as to what extent man is responsible.

Global warming controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Very funny...

Russia is getting richer.....


And Leon is getting laaargeeer......

Sorry, it's the first thing that popped into my head, Airplane was a great movie.

The Sound Clip Is Below

It looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue...

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One day, I will sneak across the border into Canada and be an illegal alien. It will be fun.

I guess you've missed the recent information indicating that much of the temperature data is erroneous.

It isn't a fact.

By the way - Wiki is a VERY bad source to use to "prove" your position on scientific issues.

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In case you were wondering, yes, there really ARE more idiots these days....technology has made natural selection obsolete.

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Fact - Climate warming

http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/..._spm2feb07.pdf

Global Warming- Science - The New York Times

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?art...E983414B7F0000

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Fact - Seas warming
NOAA News Online (Story 399)

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Global Dimming - Human contribution countering the effects of global warming

Frightening evidence of how global warming is worse than we realize

Global Dimming - Global Issues

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Fact - bush to suppress facts regarding global warming

Bush Administration Ordered to Write Global Warming Reports

YouTube - Global Warming and George Bush

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God commanded our responsibility to protect the Earth in the Covenant - Dismissing sound environmental science fact because of historical disputes between Darwinism and Evolution is tantamount to the ultimate sin based on ignorance.

The Bible -

"Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you ... Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."" (Genesis 9:8-13)

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There is no good week to stop sniffing glue.

This is no question with regard to religion, protecting the Earth should also be self-evident for an atheist like me. It's a question of rationality, not of faith.

Well, a rich russia won't be such a big problem a poor russia could be, I think. As long a russia is rich, it is involved in the global economy and can't afford himselv to be a reason of political instability.