Re: Warming 'opens Northwest Passage'

On Sep 15, 8:41 am, David <rick...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
The most direct shipping route from Europe to Asia is fully clear of
ice for the first time since records began, the European Space Agency
(Esa) says.
Historically, the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans has been ice-bound through the year.

But the agency says ice cover has been steadily shrinking, and this
summer's reduction has made the route navigable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6995999.stm

You didn't add this. It's not open to shipping yet-

"Kerr cited the work of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, which
predicts that in as little as a decade ships would find ice-free
passage in the summer months.

More conservative climate models show the Northwest Passage opening
before the year 2080 at the latest.

Kerr's article appeared in the August 30 edition of Science. His work
is a news report, not a peer-reviewed study. "


and when and if the northwest passage DOES become available to
shipping, it will cut thousands of miles off the Panama Canal route,
thus saving thousands of gallons of fuel, and reducing future CO2
production.

- A. McIntire




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... through the Northwest Passage. ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Arctic sea ice freezes up again, Algore furious, Malibu happy
    ... through the Northwest Passage. ... the 1970s that the Northern Sea Route, ... Clemente-Colon said via email from aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker ... navigable in the US National Ice Center analysis of Envisat ...
    (misc.writing)
  • ESA Says Northwest Passage Open
    ... The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk to its lowest level ... this week since satellite measurements began nearly 30 years ago, ... up the Northwest Passage - a long-sought short cut between Europe and Asia ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • Re: Warming opens Northwest Passage
    ... ice for the first time since records began, the European Space Agency ... the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific ... It's a little too late to worry about CO2 production. ...
    (sci.geo.meteorology)