Ch-ch-ch-changes

This one of the things I wanted to get done before the melting season started, because I won't have time for it then.

That big red arrow points to the biggest change on the Arctic Sea Ice Blog. In an effort to make it more visually appealing than just a bunch of links (I suck at graphic design), it may not be clear to all that in the top of the right hand bar there are actually links to the Arctic Sea Ice Graphs page, the Arctic Sea Ice Forum, the About moi page (Climate Disclaimer) and a new link to a Paypal donation page for anyone who wants to support the blog, or thank me or whatever.

I had been thinking about putting up a donation button for a while now (also because I received several e-mails requesting it), but you know, doing things like this for free makes you look more credible, and it makes you feel more independent, and you don't feel much of a responsibility. I'm also lucky that I have enough work as a free-lance translator. The pay isn't that great, but I can work as much as I want and I was born to do this work, so I'm not complaining (too much).

The downside, however, is that I'm spending a lot of time behind the computer working, blogging and distracting myself in between. And that's not too healthy in many respects, and also doesn't jive too well with this inner feeling I have of wanting to do something useful in the real world as well, like building an ecopassiveblahblah-house and gardening. So donations help, because I can step away from the boss/computer more, and that also makes my wife happier, which reduces stress for everyone.

I will occasionally write an update on donations received, but I can tell you in advance that some of it is used to cover blog hosting costs, software I use to track and make stuff, and if the forum keeps growing like it is, it might be wise to spend some money on that too (like a security certificate for instance).

Okay, with that out of the way, I can now also announce a couple of changes I made to the Arctic Sea Ice Graphs page:

• Daily Graphs: There's a jet stream image there now on the bottom; some great graphs by Jim Pettit that show where the melting season ends up if it melts as much as the amount another year melted from that point onwards; a link on top to the Maslanik/Fowler/Tschudi ice age archive
• Long-term graphs: Updated graphs by Larry Hamilton; more PIOMAS graphs by Wipneus; more graphs by Jim Pettit; I'll probably update some of the temp graphs towards the bottom some day
• Webcams: Updated the North Pole webcams, the Barrow webcam, put in the Greenland Summit Camp webcam and an Obuoy webcam (not sure it's working though); Healy has no new Aloftcon stuff as far as I can see
• I copied the menu bar and put it at the bottom, so you don't have to scroll back up
• Don't forget the updated Sea Ice Concentration Maps which give you an excellent overview and quick way to compare to previous years (see for instance May 1st)

So these were all the changes. Tell me if you'd like to see anything else. Next up is the first ASI update that will also be a bit different, so you can expect that one around mid-May.

I think I have at least two more melting seasons in me, and perhaps more. If the sea ice is still there...

Comments

[Villabolo]

A suggestion,

The image of the Earth should not be split in two but whole and I would place the support and donate link on the bottom so it doesn't convey the thought that it's the first thing you want to get people's attention.

Off topic but out of curiosity, which languages do you translate?

[Neven]

The image of the Earth should not be split in two but whole

I think that's a browser issue. FF and Chrome look fine, but Internet Explorer (which sucks BTW) has the split because that part of the image is actually uploaded by Paypal, whereas the others are uploaded by the blog software. I don't know how to change it to make the Earth complete in IE.

and I would place the support and donate link on the bottom so it doesn't convey the thought that it's the first thing you want to get people's attention.

I've tried different orders, but I thought this one looked best. Greenland posed some trouble with "Support & Donate" which made it hard to read. As soon as it has completely melted I will put "Support & Donate" back at the bottom of the list. ;-)

Off topic but out of curiosity, which languages do you translate?

Mostly from English, French, German, Italian and Croatian to Dutch and English. And I mostly subtitle TV programmes and movies and stuff like that.

[Glenn Tamblyn]

Neven

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that what you do here isn't 'doing something useful in the real world'. I applaud what you are planning wrt your new home etc and getting away from the keyboard, but what you do here is actually more useful. Knowledge and education are the most useful thing any of us can do. Because by that we can influence many other people to 'do something useful'. We aren't just debating, we are advocating.

It is a trap that many people who want to do something about a cause they believe in can fall into. The desire to do 'something' personally leads them to become so immersed in their personal actions that they become silent as a voice for the cause because they are so enmeshed in the actions they are taking. Who achieves more? Someone who takes action?. Or someone who convinces 1000 other people to take action?

One thing we have observed over at SkepticalScience is that there has been an increase in traffic to the site from schools. Teachers are using SkS as a teaching resource. In a narrower domain, you are doing the same thing here.

[Villabolo]

Some other suggestions.

You might want to use a Southern Hemisphere image for other links right under you current NH image (Let's not forget Antarctica :-) )

You may also want to put a link to Skeptical Science basic arguments link for any Newbie non-professional that might land here after a google search. Of course, such persons will be put off by the technical nature of this site and tune out right away but if they could see a link to basic level arguments then they may want to delve deeper into the subject.

The direct link to SKS argument list is http://skepticalscience.com/argument.php

[Neven]

Thanks, Glenn. I will of course try and do both. Once there is enough awareness that the Arctic sea ice is disappearing and that it's not good news for human societies, I will probably switch to something else.

Villabolo, I am forgetting about Antarctica for now. That's a good one about SkS, I'll keep it in mind. At one point I will also put in links to the Best of this Blog or some such.

[Andy Lee Robinson]

Nice job Neven, love the arrow!
Only thing I'd suggest is to make the text "Arctic Sea Ice Graphs" more readable - I spent ages looking for it!
Perhaps use a drop shadow or darker outer-glow as used in subtitles?

[Lillybrown]

Dear amazing Nevan, with regards to " doing something useful in the real world". Are ya daft laddy?
Do you not have a counter on your pages, or see that dozens of sites from all over the world are linking to your site for truthful information? Can you not hear the collective sign of relief from your followers, knowing there is someplace to get the truth about the most important subject every human has ever needed to know.
And you must see that this site has evolved to become a beacon of light in a vast sea of dark lies.

You and your site are extremely important as mankind begins to awaken to the biggest challenge we have ever faced. Please don't turn out the light.

[OldLeatherneck]

Quoting Lillybrown:

Dear amazing Nevan, with regards to " doing something useful in the real world". Are ya daft laddy?.........

...........You and your site are extremely important as mankind begins to awaken to the biggest challenge we have ever faced. Please don't turn out the light.

Neven,

I've noticed that you haven't opened a thread on the Forum regarding donations. I'd like to think you've just been too busy, however, I think it's more likely that your just too humble to ask.

Would you be offended if someone opened a thread on your behalf?

[Neven]

Thanks, Lilly, I certainly hope that this is the effect the blog is having. A doubling of traffic every melting season so far is a positive sign. If the melting of Arctic sea ice truly is a big problem for human society (and I believe it is), as many people as possible should know about it. I also have ideas about where to take it after the collective conclusion that there really is a (host of) problem(s), which I describe in the Climate Disclaimer, but that's more part of the stuff I'm trying to achieve in (my) real life, because I want to try and know as much as I can what I'm talking about.

But I'm also trying to have fun, despite all the scheisse.

Only thing I'd suggest is to make the text "Arctic Sea Ice Graphs" more readable - I spent ages looking for it!

Luckily you only had to find it once. :-P

I will improve things once I have recovered my graphic design strength.

[Neven]

Would you be offended if someone opened a thread on your behalf?

I wouldn't be offended, but it really is okay like this. I'm doing the donation thing because I have a crazy time ahead of me (with house building and garden) and I don't want to burn out. That's all.

[Espen Olsen]

A new Google Map Petermann Fjord Place Names is now available:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zbdKKg4fRHYo.kjkUmepfXc9A

[Freewayblogger.blogspot.com]

Few of us ever get to know if what we do for the planet or the species is really useful in the long run, but just the possibility that it might be should be enough. For now, anyway.

As an old prog rock fan I appreciate the Bowie reference. Lately I've been using Eno on the freeways with the words "Save the Humans."

http://www.freewayblogger.blogspot.com/2013/05/save-humans-los-angeles.html

It's quite an arresting image, and a fantastic, even prophetic album if you consider side one as "before science" and side two as "after".

[Perake]

The page "Arctic Sea Ice Graphs" was always nice but now is even better. However, the link on the bottom right frame is annoying, it takes you to a page from 2011. I suggest changing it to http://www.aari.ru/odata/_d0015.php?lang=1 which always points to the latest graph.

[Thanks, Perake! Changed now. N.]