• Space/Science
  • GeekSpeak
  • Mysteries of
    the Multiverse
  • Science Fiction
  • The Comestible Zone
  • Off-Topic
  • Community
  • Flame
  • CurrentEvents

Recent posts

Wouldn't it be nice BuckGalaxy June 11, 2025 3:13 pm (Off-Topic)

Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin BuckGalaxy June 9, 2025 1:35 pm (Off-Topic)

So, it is official RL June 6, 2025 5:39 pm (Space/Science)

"Remember, what the dormouse said, ER June 5, 2025 4:14 pm (Space/Science)

"Make my day" BuckGalaxy June 5, 2025 1:08 pm (CurrentEvents)

NSIDC Data drop ER June 4, 2025 9:34 pm (Space/Science)

Boulder will be in your news soon. podrock June 1, 2025 3:14 pm (CurrentEvents)

It's over folks RL June 1, 2025 12:38 pm (Space/Science)

Administration solves things the old fashion way BuckGalaxy June 1, 2025 11:01 am (Flame)

Issacman out as NASA Admin BuckGalaxy May 31, 2025 9:40 pm (Space/Science)

Lie, cheat and disable mechanisms... BuckGalaxy May 31, 2025 8:04 pm (Space/Science)

Big beautiful wall RobVG May 31, 2025 11:50 am (Flame)

Home » Space/Science

NSIDC mid-month bulletin August 16, 2023 8:14 pm ER

“A change is afoot.”

After declining at a near-average pace for much of the summer, Arctic sea ice loss accelerated during early August. Antarctic sea extent continues to increase but at an unusually slow pace, exacerbating the record low extent levels seen throughout the austral autumn and winter.

Arctic

Antarctic

Record low levels of Antarctic sea ice extent have persisted and have even become more extreme. Since the beginning of August, the growth in extent has begun to level off (Figure 3a). Highly variable conditions are typical of Antarctic sea ice extent near the seasonal maximum, but the present situation is clearly remarkable. While there will likely be further increases in extent the second half of the month, close attention to the progression of ice growth or retreat is warranted.

I’m getting a bad feeling about this. I have always expected polar sea ice loss as being an essentially linear function of time. But my intuition is starting to suggest that the climate seems to be transitioning into a more chaotic mode. I’ve been staring at these graphs for years, now, and my sixth sense tells me something unexpected could happen at any time.

I’ve learned to trust my intuition. I’m convinced the mind does a lot of data processing at an unconscious level. When faced with insufficient data, projections, experience with similar systems, and statistical estimates and comparisons are brought to bear. These may be subjective assessments, but they are based to some extent on past experience. They should be viewed cautiously, but they should not be ignored.

  • Visualization by RL 2023-08-26 13:57:36

    Search

    The Control Panel

    • Log in
    • Register