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North Pole Ice On Track To Melt By September?

phobos13013 writes "Recently released evidence is showing the North Pole ice is melting at the highest rate ever recorded. As a result, the Pole may be completely ice-free at the surface and composed of nothing but open water by September. As reported in September of last year, the Northwest Passage was ice-free for the first time known to man. The implications of this, as well as the causes, are still being debated. Are global warming experts just short-sighted alarmists? Are we heading for a global ice age? Or is the increase in global mean temperature having an effect on our planet?"

11 of 978 comments (clear)

  1. You know who I feel sorry for? by AltGrendel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Polar Bears. No place to go any more.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

    1. Re:You know who I feel sorry for? by fm6 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Jeez, this is the most asinine thread I've ever read. We start with some tasteless jokes about dying animals and end up with the argument that it's all no big deal because a little coastal flooding now and then is good. Let's not deal with the hard stuff, like the extinction of thousands of species, the loss of cropland, the reversal of the carbon cycle, increase in catastrophic weather, and the faint (but real) possibility that the whole thing will cycle out of control and render the planet uninhabitable. No, that would require giving up some smugness. And we at Slashdot value our smugness!

  2. Tell us in September by Kohath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is not news. This is a prediction that there might be news in September.

    If it doesn't happen, will we get an apology for misleading us?

  3. Re:Natural? by amRadioHed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes. No one credible believes that we are entirely responsible for the climate change, on the other hand no one credible disputes that we are contributing to it. No matter what the cause, the increased global temperature is a bad thing for us and thus it is in our best interest to stop contributing to the change ASAP.

    --
    We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  4. Re:Natural? by Gat0r30y · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are probably right, man made global warming is just a vast conspiracy engineered to reduce pollution, achieve energy independence, secure our natural resources, and rile up oil executives.

    --
    Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
  5. Re:bullshit by The+Warlock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ah, Chrichton. Because writing Jurassic Park is the only scientific credential that actually matters.

    With all due respect, he's got an M.D., he's not a climatologist. I don't call a plumber when I'm sick; I don't ask an M.D.'s opinion on climate change.

    --
    I've upped my standards, so up yours.
  6. Re:Finally by tomtomtom777 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's the sound of that joke going way over your head.

    Your remark interests me cause as a relative new slashdot member, I noticed that one of the main things I love about the threads here is the wonderful intermixing between jokes, facts, irony, wisdom and sarcasm.

    Your reasonably funny joke, gave someone else the opportunity to spread a fact he's been sitting on for years. Besides all the funny guys, there are a lot of smart people dwelling here, and I for one welcome the knowledge especially in this intermixed way.

    In other words. Take it easy..

  7. Re:bullshit by stewbacca · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't call a plumber when I'm sick; I don't ask an M.D.'s opinion on climate change.

    Then please, please tell me why anyone thinks Al Gore is remotely relevant on the issue of climate change!!!

  8. Re:Natural? by mckorr · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Not only that, but leaving the question of climate change aside, doesn't "green" make sense?

    Adding insulation, better windows, more efficient air conditioner, florescent lights, and so on makes my home more valuable. It also reduces my electric bill, which means more money in my pocket. Same for cars. Less pollution is a side effect, albeit a good one. More to the point it lowers my gasoline consumption, again, more money in my pocket. And I happen to like clean air, so bonus!

    Argue climate change all you want, green makes sense, if only from an economic standpoint. And why would anyone be against clean air and water?

  9. Re:bullshit by raftpeople · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have some serious questions for you:
    1) Do you believe that Michael Crichton has information that the climate scientists do not?
    2) Do you believe Michael Crichton is smarter than the climate scientists and better able to interpret the data?
    3) If either of these is true, what leads you to believe this?

  10. Re:bullshit by Penguinisto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    True... now here's the converse: Al Gore is no climatologist, either - but that didn't stop him from writing a book and being pointed at as some sort of authority on climate by the populace at large.


    Not trying to pick a debate, but I do want to point out something.


    It doesn't require any sort of degree to use logic in order to take what's out there data-wise, and form a hypothesis (or opinion) that can withstand scrutiny. All that is required is logical skill, intellect, a lot of research, a little wisdom, and patience enough to see the argument (pro or con) come together.


    I honestly don't care about who advances the opinion, I care about the logical progression of the argument. I also care about whether or not the supporting facts are as complete as possible, in context, and not in disregard of facts which oppose the conclusion. See also the reasons why ad hominem and appeals to authority are counted as fallacious.

    /P

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?