An American scientist says a mile wide expanse of ice-free water has opened up at the North Pole on a recent trip in a Russian Icebreaker, last month.
Dr McCarthy told the New York Times newspaper "It was totally unexpected," The scientists say the ice cap in the whole area was so thin that the ship had to sail for another 10 kilometres (six miles) to find ice thick enough for the passengers to leave the boat and walk on the ice cap, as they had been promised.
The party also saw ivory gulls flying overhead, which ornithologists say is a first for the area.
"Some folks who pooh-pooh global warming might wake up if shown that even the pole is beginning to melt at least sometimes"
But other scientists are less sure. They say movements in polar ice regularly create gaps in the ice cap - including at the North Pole itself.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/888235.stm **Thoughts
Regarding that last comment. Gaps so big?
Anyone had read the historys of Amundsen, Peary, Bird, and others who struggled to reach the North Pole, (in summer while it was light)might not be so glib.
I wonder if its possible to use Sub-Millimeter Radar, to average out any increase in actual ocean heights, over time? Surely a factual increase in ocean height would lay the Global Warming debate to rest.
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"You will never find a real Human being - even in a mirror." .....Mike Kremer.
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