I know there were many who were concerned that the Arctic Ice Caps would melt and with it any hope that mankind could survive.
Thankfully, while below the ice Extent numbers for the average year 1979 through 2000, there was more Arctic Ice near the end of August this year than at the same time in 2007 or 2008.
I couldn't really tell if the Northwest Passage was open or not from the satelite photo. It didn't look to be so yet. I think that an open northwest Passage was one of the predictions from a poster here earlier this year.
http://nsidc.org/images/arcticseaicenews/20090818_Figure2.png
http://nsidc.org/images/arcticseaicenews/20090818_Figure1.png
Thankfully, while below the ice Extent numbers for the average year 1979 through 2000, there was more Arctic Ice near the end of August this year than at the same time in 2007 or 2008.
I couldn't really tell if the Northwest Passage was open or not from the satelite photo. It didn't look to be so yet. I think that an open northwest Passage was one of the predictions from a poster here earlier this year.
http://nsidc.org/images/arcticseaicenews/20090818_Figure2.png
http://nsidc.org/images/arcticseaicenews/20090818_Figure1.png