The United States, eaterners in particular, have been hit with one harsh winter storm after another, causing some to curse the cruel weather and others to pray for a hasty return of spring. Temperatures in some places are hitting bitterly cold marks of -38°F or more. Although, as bad as it may seem, snow accumulations in most areas are a ways from setting any records.
Hartford, Conneticut is an exception, receiving record snowfall last week which set the total for this year over 55 inches. Their average all winter is only 46 inches. New York, also, is seeing higher than average snnowfall with 36 inches, thus far, compared to 21 inches yearly. Boston, too, has accumulated 50 inches with a 41.5 seasonal average. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41219381/ns/weather/
The other winter related story in the news today concerns the Bering Strait, which is the narrow sea route between Alaska and Russia. Global warming is causing the ice north of Russia and Canada to melt, allowing for vessels to pass through and open up oil and gas exploration. Apparently, two German cargo vessels sailed along the northern coast of Russia in 2009 fron South Korea to Norway, cutting 4,000 miles off their usual route which would pass through the Suez Canal.
The article states - 'Referring to climate change, Jonas Gahr Stoere (Norway's Foreign Minister) said that "the trends are not slower in the Arctic, they are faster."' Duh, old news! We've already seen that EVERY prediction by the Big Brains is way off.
Another passage expounds - 'Rear Adm. David Titley, oceanographer of the U.S. Navy, projected that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free for 2-3 months in summers — long enough to attract wider interest from shipping companies — by around mid-century.' And there goes the Admiral, obediently parroting the Big Brains about the route opening up by mid-century, but we know better. It will be more like a handful of years.
The problem with this northern route opening up, besides the fact that it's a BIG RED FLAG of global warming and climate change, is that the more traffic using the route, the more likely the occurence of a Titanic-like mishap. The article goes on to quote the Admiral further, '"It has not been because of skill, it has been because of luck that we have not had a Titanic-type disaster," he said in a speech.'
As that huge chuck of arctic ice melts, more and more giant ice cubes will be floating around in the ocean's currents. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41234124/ns/world_news-world_environment/
All the gluttonous gas and oil corporations are slobbering on themselves at a shot at drilling up above and shaving time and expense off their shipping routes. I happen to think the global warming issue is much more alarming than the brief money making opportunity, but, hey, that's just me!
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