It's crazy when you think about it. Just a few years back everyone was stunned to see the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route (also known as the Northeast Passage) open at the same time. Last year we saw the first boats making it through both passages in one season. Some people might try to downplay the significance of this fact by referring to Amundsen or the St. Roch, but we have a guy this year who did the Northwest Passage solo. I'm certain the ghost of poor Sir John Franklin is howling with envy.
But still, for most people it has become more or less normal now for the Northwest Passage and Northern Sea Route to open up towards the end of the melting season. Such is human nature, I guess. We might look up briefly with a bored look if someone tells us that those Passages open up a bit earlier every year, but that's it. The new normal is not so new and very normal. I'm covering it anyway, just to let you know.
There's some white stuff left in the Northwest Passage, but I think it's safe to say it's open. The Northern Sea Route has been open for a while now, with proper Suez-size tankers apparently going through it. Here it is:
People who like to have more details can read this recent paper by Shibata et al: Interannual changes in sea-ice conditions on the Arctic Sea Route obtained by satellite microwave data (hat-tip to Angela Marchbank)
I wasn't sure which thread to post this little snippet on, until, as if by magic, this one about the passages appeared.
Just to reinforce Neven's comment about Suez size tanker's, have a little look at...
http://www.barentsobserver.com/first-supertanker-along-northern-sea-route.4951370-16178.html
As AGW (or CAGW, or FCAGW) is obviously a scam designed to facilitate a one-world, leftist, environmentalist, anti-free market government, it's nice to see that those poor energy companies are managing to make the best of things whilst they still can.
(By the way, that ice isn't really melting - it's all down to badly positioned thermometers reacting to the Urban Heat Island Effect.)
Posted by: BilltheillFrog | August 27, 2011 at 18:34
Hi all,
@Bill the Frog: FCAGW!?!! Love it.
Also to note this year is that we appear to be on the brink of the opening of a "fast lane" in the Northern Sea Route - passing to the North of Svarlbard, Severnaya Zemlya and the New Siberian Islands in relatively ice-free waters. This is most unusual.
Over in the Canadian Archipelago, while the main East-West passage has been open for the last few years, this is the first time, as far as I recall that all of the sheet ice within the Archipelago has become broken up enough to allow the free transport of ice and/or surface in and out of the Arctic basin via the North-South Passages through the Archipelago.
Depending on weather patterns, this may become significant over the next few weeks. In theory, as much ice could leave the Arctic Basin in this direction as would normally exit via the Fram Strait.
Posted by: idunno | August 27, 2011 at 19:15
The first solo trip through the NW passage was in 1977 by Willy de Roos (AFAIK). This trip is non-stop in a fiberglass boat which takes a certain amount of um, testicular fortitude (and a definite lack of ice.)
Posted by: David Einstein | August 27, 2011 at 19:18
Sea Ice Area for the Canadian Archipelago typically varies between 0.6 to 0.27 MKm2. It is currently about 0.2 MKm2 short of normal, which may be close to a record anomaly.
Posted by: Andrew Xnn | August 27, 2011 at 19:25
Hi Andrew,
Agreed, and I was under the impression that we all thought that the CA was full of thick, multi-year ice, and was one of the most likely hiding places for the ice to make a "last stand".
Apparently, by 2012, it might nearly all be first year ice.
Posted by: idunno | August 27, 2011 at 19:37
It's amazing how quickly things become the new normal. The ice pack will have to do something really marvellous for people to take note. And they'll probably adjust sooner than I'd thought. I'm reminded of the people of Easter Island. People probably thought Grandad was telling tales when he said the trees used to be bigger.
I've been reading about the history of the search for the NWP. Frankly anyone who thinks that provides evidence for conditions like now is talking utter c**p.
Posted by: Chris Reynolds | August 27, 2011 at 20:04
Just a quickie, as I hear some beer seductively calling my name...
@ idunno >> FCAGW!?!! - Love it
Thank you, we aim to please.
A bit more "news" from July about the North Sea Route is that Rosatomflot (the Russian Ice Breaker fleet) has received approval from their government to purchase an additional 6 ice breakers. (3 atomic, 3 conventional)
http://www.barentsobserver.com/index.php?id=4940947&xxforceredir=1&noredir=1
Its obvious that such an amount of capital outlay is not intended just for use around August each year - they are clearly expecting to be escorting commercial shipping for several (many?) months each year.
Cheers Bill F
Posted by: BilltheillFrog | August 27, 2011 at 20:10
IEHO the important thing about the Northern Passage being open is the ability to bring in heavy equipment. This is the vital step to opening up the oil gas and etc of northern Russia where rail and road lines are simply fictions.
Posted by: Eli Rabett | August 27, 2011 at 21:19
Willy de Roos' boat Williwaw was a steel 13-meter ketch. His book 1985 book chronicling his polar adventures was titled "Inaccessible Horizon". Although Willy passed away in 2008, his personal blog links to a climate denier video. Bad show.
Posted by: Artful Dodger | August 28, 2011 at 01:26
For many years Parry Channel wouldn't open and the explorers looking for the NW Passage went for the southern route. Now they both are open.
When you think about how this changes the shape of the Arctic and the ways humans can move about in it, it's pretty significant. Next we will have to watch the date they open.
Posted by: Noel Ward | August 28, 2011 at 04:36
Eli Rabett,
Further to your comment. Building railway lines over permafrost that will melt is merely a way of burning money. Shipping will open up Siberia's north.
The actions of serious people backed by serious money betrays their expectations. The loss of Arctic sea-ice will continue.
Posted by: Chris Reynolds | August 28, 2011 at 08:15
UB looks like it went up slightly. Jaxa and UB both got the same data. Jaxas 2 day running avg. Caused it to drop some while UB dropped none. Same reason yesterday UB dropped more than jaxa. Then there is whatever grid res accounts for. As the ice compacts java will drop faster then ub
Posted by: Frivolousz21 | August 28, 2011 at 09:13