Two German Cargo Ships Pass Through 'Arctic Passage'

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Forgive me for stating what should be obvious, but no matter what happens to the Arctic ice pack, it won't make the slightest difference to sea levels, which despite the claims of the East Anglia "scientists" may have actually declined slightly in recent years. Floating ice doesn't influence sea levels, because the liquid volume remains the same whether part of it is frozen or not.
Now if the Antarctic ice cover, which rests on land, were to melt, that would be quite a different story, but despite Senator Kerry's hysterical address to Congress that isn't happening; in fact, ice and snow continue to accumulate there.
As for the opening of the Northwest Passage supposedly proving global warming; that doesn't seem likely considering that all other indications are contrary. By all means take advantage of the open water while it lasts, but don't make any long-term plans as there is a definite cycle to glaciers and pack ice.

Marc de Piolenc 6:59AM September 23, 2010

Instead of complaining about Global Warming, we should take advantage of the situation, like using the NW Passage. There is good and bad with everything. No matter what people say and do the Global Warming will continue until its cycle is completed; then we will probably go into the next ice-age and people will complain about that. We don't control the earth's weather, so just live with it and prepare for the problems that will arise. We now expect the ocean levels to rise. But What Are we doing about the rise in ocean levels? As far as I can see, the answer is nothing. We are not going to stop the warming trend so lets stop talking about it and start preparing for the consequences.

Robert L. Matarainen of NY 1:17PM September 13, 2009

This article is extremely disturbing to me. While some see the artic passage as an opportunity to reduce transportation costs, I see this opportunity born from an appocalyptic trend. While open Artic sea lanes may be benificial in terms of short term transportation, what about the systemic long term effects. The rising sea levels, where over 30 % of the population is at immediate rist, the lost of animal and plant species as well as resultant climatic refugees. These effects were mentioned in the ancient text "The Balenyata". For a book written three thousand years ago, the Balenyata vividly describes the fear and resultant conflict between nations due to climatic refugees, the resultant stress on resources,etc. According to Ralph Dell'Aquilla, reknown Mamalestian-American professor of strategic studies, "The short term may be viewed as opportunities, but the price will be long term ecological and resultant financial disaster. We should not be happy about this". Dell'Aquilla stresses that world leaders should read the Balenyata as a guide for what is to come. "it is frightning how the Balenyata has been accurate so far on describing 'the inconvienent truths' and how we have been denying their existence>" He credits former vice president Al Gore with the forssight and courage to make us look at these issues.

Jeannie of NJ 12:53PM September 13, 2009

Fabled because I am sure it has been open before. What DO you call the Pre-Industrial Global Warming?. Anticipatory? End of the Dark Ages had warming as did other cycles. Outlawing industry where it is done cleanly will not fix things either.

bruce of NJ 8:42AM September 13, 2009