Arctic Sea Ice Melting Now - In February - North Pole 35F Over Historical Avg. 2/13
Last edited Sun Feb 16, 2014, 09:19 PM - Edit history (1)
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Extraordinarily warm water, as much as 10°F above normal, has entered the Barents sea on the Atlantic side of the Arctic. Sea ice is melting in February in response to the incursion of warm water that originated in the Gulf Stream.
Storm after storm has pounded England and western Europe, smashing the coastline with massive waves and flooding, making this the stormiest winter in the long English weather records which go back to 1766. But there's something happening in the ocean that's even more disturbing than the destruction to Europe. The extreme wind field across the Atlantic this winter is literally driving water that originated in the Gulf Stream into the Arctic Ocean causing sea ice extent on the Atlantic side of the Arctic ocean to decline in the middle of February. Water temperatures reported by NOAA are far above normal from the coast of north America, to the Labrador and Greenland seas, extending all the way into the Arctic ocean. The sea surface temperature anomaly maps are shocking. Water temperatures are more than 10°F above normal near Svalbard in the Arctic ocean. Likewise, Gulf Stream temperatures off of the east coast of North America are stunningly hot.
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Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf Stream are greater than 10°F above normal off the east coast of North America
The Norwegian Atlantic current carries hot Gulf stream water mixed with cool water from the north Atlantic, up the coast of Norway. The current then flows north towards Svalbard, in the Arctic, or east towards Murmansk, Russia depending on the storms and winds. This winter, the much stronger than normal winds across the north Atlantic and in the Greenland sea, have spun up the Norwegian Atlantic current to higher than normal speed, driving warm water rapidly towards both Svalbard and Murmansk.
Temperatures near the north pole were 35°F (20°C) above normal on February 13.
Ed. - emphasis in original.
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Surface winds were much stronger than normal across the Atlantic from Nov. 1, 2013 through Jan. 31, 2014. Moreover anomalous cyclonic winds spun up in the Nordic seas, spinning up the warm Norwegian Atlantic current up the coast of Norway and the cold Greenland current down the east coast of Greenland. These winds hastened the export of sea ice from the Arctic and the import of warm Atlantic water into the Arctic.
EDIT
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/16/1278016/--Extraordinary-N-Atlantic-Storms-Driving-Gulf-Stream-Water-into-Arctic-Sea-Ice-Melting-in-February
I'm sorry, what was that again about the Department of Agriculture "climate hubs", and the "adaptation fund"?
EDIT
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/16/1278016/--Extraordinary-N-Atlantic-Storms-Driving-Gulf-Stream-Water-into-Arctic-Sea-Ice-Melting-in-February
= new reply since forum marked as read
Now THERE'S a way to get public attention on climate issues!
Global warming is just a liberal myth,
forget about those scientists...what the hell
do they know ?
How you been, Xema?
Yourself? 
So as Wolf Blitzer would say; "Well there you have it. The debate continues".
I remember winters where 40 below in February was the norm. This week so far, it was 26 below this morning, 4 below now, clouding up (which makes it warmer, traps heat) and going to 10 above tomorrow. There was an article from the UAF Geophysical Institute about the changes in plant growth in previously "stunted growth" areas: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/node/1667
Scary, you bet. 
. (I'm just assuming you're in Fairbanks.)Heaven knows, we have plenty of snow. Got 4 more inches yesterday. I'd hate to break up the "traditional" start on 4th and the restart in Wasilla, though - the restart isn't too far from my big brother's house, and he'd be upset (he's on one of the trail committees).
I can promise good coffee!
I wouldn't want to do it. No way. I'd worry about the dog's feet too much! Suggestion re: lodging if you decide to come; there's a couple of "residence" type motels where you can cook in-room, etc. Or contact the Yukon Quest office; they may have a list of place that are reasonable or folks willing to provide a room. I'd offer, but I'm in a teeny, tiny cabin that we can barely move around in! 
Problem solved.
Would you like me to send you a link to my I'rod photos when I get them posted at my website after the race? I'm glad they're keeping it in Willow - I like the traditional stuff, too. I was actually at the start of the first Iditarod in Anchorage (at a much younger age than I am now)!! I'll keep the link on my favorites bar!
It's up in the Brooks Range:
you may not have had the worst yet...
From World Wildlife Fund, Threats to Polar Bears:
Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt and store energy for the summer and autumn, when food is scarce.
Sea ice now melts earlier in the spring and forms later in the autumn in the bears’ southern range, like the Hudson and James Bays of Canada.
As the bears spend longer periods without food, their health declines.
Unhealthy bears can lead to lower reproduction rates – and local extinction.
&feature
Current bear populations
20-25,000polar bears worldwide
~19 distinct sub-populations (see map below)
60-80%of polar bears are in Canada
Status by country
International: Vulnerable
Canada (COSEWIC): Special Concern
Greenland / Denmark: Vulnerable
Norway: Vulnerable
Russia: Uncertain, Rare, and Rehabilitated/Rehabilitating
United States: Threatened
