Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted September 17, 2009 Scientists say global warming opens ice-choked passages FRANKFURT - Two German ships became the first commercial vessels to traverse the Arctic's Northeast Passage, their owner reported Friday, having arrived in Siberia from South Korea by traveling around Russia's northern coast line. The merchant ships MV Beluga Fraternity and MV Beluga Foresight made it "through the formerly impenetrable Northeast Passage from Asia to Europe for the first time," Beluga Shipping GmbH said in a statement. They traveled from Ulsan, South Korea, in late July to Yamburg, Siberia, by way of the route that until now had been avoided by commercial ships because of its heavy ice floes. Scientists report that the Arctic Ocean ice cap has been shrinking to unprecedented levels in recent summers, because of global warming, opening many passages that were ice-choked in earlier times. In July, new NASA satellite measurements showed that sea ice in the Arctic was not just shrinking in area, but thinning dramatically. "The Arctic is becoming a blue ocean," Serreze told The Associated Press. Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgstone 8,672 Report post Posted September 18, 2009 Damn. I wonder how much longer it'll be before the sea levels rise to "Waterworld" levels. I need to watch that movie again, its been a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted September 18, 2009 Well... we'll get sea level rise but we'll have another ice age b4 we flood to Waterworld extent. No gills for you! Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgstone 8,672 Report post Posted September 19, 2009 Evolving gills is the only hope I have for becoming a good swimmer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
