Satellite Show Arctic Literally on Thin Ice 04.06.09 - Additional imagery and background information for this story can be found here. www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/seaice_status09.html

See the image showing 2009 Arctic sea ice maximum. This data visualization from the AMSR-E instrument on the Aqua satellite show the maximum sea ice extent for 2008-09, which occurred on Feb. 28, 2009. Credit: NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio

See the map showing Arctic sea ice extent. During the winter, winds and currents push some of the thick, multi-year ice out of the Arctic Ocean. In the past, that thicker ice was replenished by new ice that survived several summer melt seasons. Credit: Chuck Fowler and Jim Maslanik, University of Colorado, and NSIDC

See the map showing Arctic sea ice extent Maps show the relative age of Arctic sea ice at the end of February 2009 and over time. Thin, first-year ice is the predominant type covering the Arctic Ocean this winter. Credit: Chuck Fowler and Jim Maslanik, University of Colorado, and NSIDC

See the graph showing decline in sea ice coverage The decline in multiyear (including second-year ice) sea ice coverage has also been measured by NASA’s QuikScat satellite from 1999 to 2009. Each field shows the coverage on January 1 of that year. There is a 40 percent drop in coverage between 2005 and 2007. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

See the larger image The latest Arctic sea ice data from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center show that the decade-long trend of shrinking sea ice cover is continuing. New evidence from satellite observations also shows that the ice cap is thinning as well.

Arctic sea ice works like an air conditioner for the global climate system. Ice naturally cools air and water masses, plays a key role in ocean circulation, and reflects solar radiation back into space. In recent years, Arctic sea ice has been declining at a surprising rate.

Scientists who track Arctic sea ice cover from space announced today that this winter had the fifth lowest maximum ice extent on record. The six lowest maximum events since satellite monitoring began in 1979 have all occurred in the past six years (2004-2009).
Read more ---> www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/arctic_thinice.html

I found this article and these images to be extremely informative and disturbing. What are your thoughts?

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