50/50 chance that ice will disappear from the North Pole this summer

Extent of polar ice at the end of Summer 2007 - far less than three decades ago



Tree Hugger reports that scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, CO have an informal betting pool that ice will melt away from the geographic north pole by the end of this summer. I saw the above image in a Ted Talk given my Al Gore recently, which made me nervous. I'm no climate specialist, but if the potential for a melting away to the north pole is true, I can't imagine this not having consequences on world weather patterns.

Comments

[JOHN A. BLACKIE]

I am willing to bet my entire economic stimulus money that the polar ice cap will not disappear. Now, before you global warming morons take my bet, please note that the ice cap has increased in the past two years. I tell you this because I feel sorry for idiots. Any takers?

[John Newton]

The ice disappearing from the geographic north pole is not the same as the polar ice cap melting. Greenland is holding on to a lot of the ice and it will take longer to melt from south of the north pole.

However, significant melting like this should be a real concern. If nothing else, we should be looking a risk mitigation strategies in case it happens. The situation that will determine whether this ice will melt or not is done. It is now more important to determine what the effects might be and to mitigate them. This is a euphemism for dealing with the human tragegy that will result.