The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry...Read More at NASA...
*Edit* Here are More Timelapse Images, here is one using NASA images from 1979-2003. Here is another using NSIDC data from 1982 to 2007.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. Tom, you ought to look at humans and there impact on this planet since the industrial revolution. Lets see we have seen many species go extinct, we have mercury levels in our fresh and saltwater fish that are high, find a freshwater body of water and drink and risk getting ill, reefs are dying, and I could go on and on. We wouldn't even know about icecaps on Mars if not for NASA and our scientists - the same guys researching GW. Its irresponsible to not acknowledge data that has been proven. I owe my kids and future humans the dignity to do all I can to fight atmospheric warming. Stop listening to Rush and his propaganda which makes him a lot of money feeding you all the information you love to hear. You hate liberals and Gore and that is why you don't believe in GW. Thats a shame.
David Bruderly at 1:18AM on Oct 26th 2007
17. ummmm wow i like it when people with no degrees in anything put their OPIONIONS into the ring well i think i believe holy shit as said before by an idiot 99.999999% of all scientists believe the earth is getting fucked up the ass by humans and still same slock jawed jackass with a thumb up his butt goes i don't care i think what i want to think and then gets in his hummer fantastic
Brian at 1:38AM on Oct 29th 2007
18. Tom, No of course I personally didn't discover water on Mars, but NASA did recently. The water ice caps are at the poles under the CO2 dry ice caps. Amazing how you lecture others to read up on the science yet you junk without question anything that does not fit your political agenda irrespective of the quality of the source. I think NASA are a reasonably well qualified source. Politics appears to transform intelligent thinking people into mindless drones who simply chant the dogma of their party - weird eh?
ducton at 9:37AM on Oct 26th 2007
19. Concluding that Earth's climate is in peril because perennial ice has decreased at the polar caps since 1979 is like treading water in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, peeing in your pants, and concluding the sea is getting warmer.
Global Warming is nothing more than Chicken Little junk science calculated to serve the vested interests of the left-wing, anti-development, anti-American whackjobs of the world.
Mikey at 11:55AM on Oct 26th 2007
20. It's called change. Earth will do that from time to time. I am not alarmed because in order for Earth to repair and recycle it much have drastic change. According to science drastic changes similar to this occurred long before humans inhabited the Earth.
E at 12:01PM on Oct 26th 2007
21. JAY These are NOT seasonal variations! Most of what you see melt in the time lapse has not been melted in our lifetimes.There has not been a northern east/west water route open in recorded history. I realize a lot of people actually believe what dick head,,oops Bush says(the jury is still out on global warming). If his unique statement were true, then he wouldn't have to tamper with wittnesses, and the reports they are giving congress. And order NASA scientists to lie on the stand.
Bryan at 12:42PM on Oct 26th 2007
22. THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!
AL at 12:39PM on Oct 26th 2007
23. It's not just the "summer thaw" - this is the first time since records were being kept in 1978 that the Northwest Passage has become fully navigable.
Whether its anthropogenic or not isn't necessarily the issue, but we are facing a warming that setting on fast.
Jesse at 2:59PM on Oct 26th 2007
24. SCREW THIS! WHERE IS THE "REAL NEWS" ABOUT CHARLIE RANGEL and the democrats MOTHER OF ALL TAX INCREASES THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL????? ITS BURIED PEOPLE READ UP ON IT WHERE EVER YOU CAN FIND IT!
AL at 1:01PM on Oct 26th 2007
25. Tom, No of course I personally didn't discover water on Mars, but NASA did recently.>>>
I'm afraid I'm not informed by the discoveries that happen in one of your ecodreams. NASA has not found water on MARS! If you disagree ... give us a link.
Clue: Saying it with the certainty of a lunatic .... doesn't make it so.
Thomas J Gassett at 1:31PM on Oct 26th 2007
26. I should have known that Mr. Gassett would be here being his usual nasty self.
No matter what the subject is, he just can't help himself. He has to attack, attack and attack. I just don't get it all that name calling all the time. I don't even see the pay off in it.
I just have a question for those who do not belive in global warming. Why is it that you don't belive this is happening?? Are your reasons due to extensive research on your part? Are they politicly motivated or faith based??
I really am interested in getting someones perspective, regarding this subject. I personally find it very interesting that people don't belive that we should be concern and therefore I am interested in someones view.
Patty at 1:39PM on Oct 26th 2007
27. Tom, you ought to look at humans and there impact on this planet since the industrial revolution. Lets see we have seen many species go extinct, we have mercury levels in our fresh and saltwater fish that are high, find a freshwater body of water and drink and risk getting ill, reefs are dying, and I could go on and on. >>>
What does any of this have to do with GW.
1.Mercury levels in fish are high. Mercury stays in the enviorment. That said, these levels are harmless in most fish. Only in very old Halibut do these level become a real concern.
2.As to exstinction. Most speices that once lived on this Earth are exstinct, and most went exsticnt before man left his first dirty footprint on this Earth.
3. Reefs die it's natural ... as nothing lives forever. Most damage done to the worlds reefs are done by a starfish.
4. Yes, you could go on and on ... but I find your anedotal evidence unconvincing.
Thomas J Gassett at 1:38PM on Oct 26th 2007
28. #22
"22. It's not just the "summer thaw" - this is the first time since records were being kept in 1978 that the Northwest Passage has become fully navigable."
"this is the first time since records were being kept in 1978 "
Are ytou saying that since 1978 records have been kept? Isn't 29 years a little short time compared to the average lifespan of a human. As far a geological time is concerned, 29 years does not even have a place within the measurement of a planet.
Pray tell, how is it that the "Northwest Passage" is fully navigable now since and if it was "never" navigable before, how did it came to be called Northwest Passage.
M2D5 at 1:57PM on Oct 26th 2007
29. #16,
"You hate liberals and Gore and that is why you don't believe in GW. Thats a shame"
One does not need to "hate" liberals or Gore for that matter. Some people believe that Global Warming ( excuse me, i meant to use the correct term GW) is occuring . However, they have not attempted to piggy-back a whole bunch of common, off the shelf, "green" dogma with it.
M2D5 at 1:58PM on Oct 26th 2007
30. It's good to know that we have so many experts, like Mr. Gasset, Al, Patty, and crew who have done such extensive research on this topic and I learned so much... ( I am being sarcastic of course.)
this sounds more like a political debate than a logical one.
Even scientist, yes the ones who are actually out there doing the research, cannot agree. Of course the only parts are considered right only if it supports your political agenda, as certain "facts" did for Al Gore and Rush Limbaugh.
The only consistency in the argument is that Earth is still warming since the last Ice Age years ago. What is causing, maybe everything mentioned or some. Who really knows. We have the technology to study this since 1979. The earth is how old now? Billions (well 6000 years for some).
But does it mean that continuing to pollute justified because it may not actually be tied to Global Warming? How about Cancer or other healt concerns. How about increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere while reducing the density of Forests (which is the most effective natural source on earth to recyle CO2 into oxygen, just not effective with the plant a tree here or there idea.) Do you think there is a logical explaination to justify that?
We all, and sometimes I catch myself doing this to, pick out just a small peice of a subject or research result and blow it up and make it the one truth when in fact we are completely ignoring the big picture all together. So those who wish to quote chicken little or call people ignorant and unecessarily call people names might as well be looking into the mirror as well. The fact is, we as human beings, a microcosmic spec of this solar systmem has not control of what is going to happen or how to handle it. All I am asking though is, while I spend my time here on earth, just some freaking clean air to breath.
David McCool at 2:01PM on Oct 26th 2007