Well, after 4 weeks of I think what can only be described as abnormal and disruptive weather (sort of like 2006, but colder!).. it looks like we’re getting a bit of a break.
The forecast is for fog, some unsettled clouds and some sun. I expect there to be lots of fog and for the warmth to be hard to come by, but hopefully by the end of this week I’ll finally be able to see my yard. There is still 6″ of snow in parts!
I’d also like to point readers to this article on a new research paper that answers an interesting question. Are the recent years of global warmth really that unusual? The answer, Yes.
This months report from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (they track the amount of ice/snow at the North and South poles) was also interesting especially juxtaposed with the report above.
Ice growth throughout most of December 2008 fit in with the expected pattern of ice growth in winter months. However, from December 12 to 19 there was almost no increase in ice extent (seen in the flattening of the timeseries line). The week-long pause in expansion of the ice edge is not unprecedented in the satellite record; several Decembers during past decades show similar events. However, such slowing has been unusual in recent years.
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