Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Another Arctic Ice Story



The National Snow and Ice Data Center is out with their second report on this years' melt season for the Arctic. The news sounded awful, "second greatest melt on record."

The problem. Well it's the record. The scientists there are using the Earth Observing System (EOS) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E). A satellite. The reference period is 1979-2000. Note: The lack of satellites in the 1800's.

This news is interesting when we are talking about weather or current conditions. This is meaningless bullshit when you are talking about climate - the average of weather over a VERY LONG period of time.

The scientists at the NSCDC know the difference, but continue to mix the two references to make splashy headlines...and get a helluvalot more funding.

How about another picture of a polar bear swimming. Oh the lack of humanity.

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