Arctic Ice Extent Understated Because of "Sensor Drift" 823
dtjohnson writes "The National Snow and Ice Data
Center (NSIDC) has been at the forefront of predicting doom in the arctic as ice melts due to global warming. In May, 2008 they went so far as to predict that the North Pole would be ice-free during
the 2008 'melt season,' leading to a lively Slashdot discussion. Today, however, they say that they have been the victims of 'sensor drift' that led
to an underestimation of Arctic ice extent by as much as 500,000 square
kilometers. The problem was discovered after they received
emails from puzzled readers, asking why obviously sea-ice-covered
regions were showing up as ice-free, open ocean. It turns
out that the NSIDC relies on an older, less-reliable method of tracking
sea ice extent called SSM/I that does not agree with a newer method called AMSR-E. So why doesn't NSIDC use the newer AMSR-E data? 'We do not use AMSR-E data in our analysis because it
is not consistent with our historical data.' Turns out that the AMSR-E data only goes back to 2002, which is probably not long enough for the NSIDC to make sweeping conclusions about melting. The AMSR-E data is updated daily and is available to the public. Thus far, sea ice
extent in 2009 is tracking ahead of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, so
the predictions of an ice-free north pole might be premature."
500,000km (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How can people expect... (Score:3, Funny)
They probably melted due to global warming.
Re:Polar Bears (Score:3, Funny)
No, and Rupert Murdoch will head north and drown them personally if he has to.
Re:We only use data that support our hypothesis (Score:4, Funny)
they are interested in trends, not absolute values
Climate scientists are the mental equivalent of teenagers and shallow women. Thanks for the clarification.
Re:Rocket science? (Score:3, Funny)
My prediction from my data states that Year {X+1} will be the year of the Linux Desktop.
Shennanigans (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Rocket science? (Score:4, Funny)
If they want to be seen as scifi scientists, they need to offer solutions, not just point out problems. When was the last time a climate scientists suggested rerouting the goo-on particle stream through the deflector dish using just the right frequency to reverse global warming? I WANT ANSWERS, DAMN IT.
Re:We only use data that support our hypothesis (Score:4, Funny)
How so?
Because it suggests the world is more than 6000 years old.
/duh
Global Warming: The Modern Inquisition (Score:5, Funny)
The number of similarities between global warming and the older, more traditional religions have been documented numerous times and places: The high priesthood for whom the sins don't apply, the levied guilt, prophets of doom, attack on science by a faithful flock, the purchase of indulgences (carbon credits), concerted attempts to control the secular leadership as a means to bring the general population into line, etc., etc.
The only non-similarity -- and it's a shame, really -- is that the medieval inquisition had those really cool hooded robes. The modern Global Warming Cult has no fashion sense whatsoever, as best as I can make out.
Gilligan!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
This reminds me of the Gilliganâ(TM)s Island episode where the professor thought that the island was sinking. It turned out that Gilligan was just moving the marker to deeper water to catch bigger lobsters.
Re:Rocket science? (Score:3, Funny)
You must be vying for a.... (Score:3, Funny)
high-priest position in this new religion...
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