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Arctic sea ice area on January 28, 2016, was only 12.17902 million square km. At this time of year, sea ice area hasn't been as low as this for at least since satellite records started in 1979, as illustrated by the image below. based on image from:  arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/arctic.sea.ice.interactive.html Furthermore, on January 29, 2016, Arctic sea ice reached its second lowest extent since the satellite records began, as the image below shows. based on image from:  nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph Why is sea ice at record low? The sea ice is in a bad shape due to very high temperatures. A forecast for January 30, 2016, shows surface temperatures over the Arctic that are 2.7°C (4.86°F) warmer than they were in 1979-2000. The image below further illustrates this, showing temperature anomalies at the top end of the scale, i.e. 20°C (36°F) above 1979-2000, in many places in the Arctic. At this time of year, there is very little sunshine in t...

There are many reasons why America should take the lead in action on climate change. It's fair and in everyone's interest that America takes the lead It's fair that those who pollute most, do most to clean things up. America's current and historic emissions are huge, while a lot of what has been produced elsewhere is also consumed in America. Moreover, it's in everyone's interest if America takes the lead. That is confirmed by studies such as this one , showing that there are no technical or economic barriers against cleaning things up. Doing so has many benefits, including job and investment opportunities, and scope for exports. In order for American industries, such as car manufacture, to remain competitive with products from overseas, they must clean up their act. In addition, there are many health and the environmental benefits, while shifting to clean energy will remove perceived needs for America to send military forces across the world to protect global s...

At the Paris Agreement , nations pledged to cut emissions and avoid dangerous temperature rises. Yet, the rise in greenhouse gas levels and temperatures appears to be accelerating. Record growth of carbon dioxide levels at Mauna Loa Annual mean carbon dioxide level measured at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, grew by  3.17 ppm (parts per million) in 2015, a higher growth rate than in any year since the record started in 1959. As above image shows, a polynomial trendline added to the data points at a carbon dioxide growth rate of 4 ppm by the year 2024 and 5 ppm by the year 2028.  At the start of the Industrial Revolution, the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere was about 280 ppm. On January 11, 2016, as above image shows, carbon dioxide level at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, was 402.1 ppm . That's some 143% times what the upper level of carbon dioxide was in pre-industrial times over at least the past 400,000 years, as the image further below illustrates. At higher northern latitude...

Arctic sea ice extent on January 4, 2016, was at a record low for the time of the year, as illustrated by the image below. Arctic sea ice will typically reach its maximum extent in March. In 2015, sea ice extent was very low in March (see blue line in above image), and the outlook for this year is even more grim, as oceans get warmer and El Niño is still gaining in strength. Below is a comparison of sea ice thickness (in m) on January 4th for the years 2012, 2015 and 2016. Below is an update showing Arctic sea ice extent as on January 6, 2016, at the bottom left corner, marked with the red dot. The situation is dire and calls for comprehensive and effective action as described at the Climate Plan . Arctic sea ice extent on January 4, 2016, was at a record low for the time of the year. Arctic Sea Ice At Record Lowhttp://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2016/01/arctic-sea-ice-at-record-low.html Posted by Sam Carana on  Tuesday, January 5, 2016