Snow White
LightNews LightNews
greatwhitecon.info
Snow White
@greatwhitecon.info
100 followers 45 following 47 posts
Putting the Arctic sea ice record straight
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
greatwhitecon.info
Snow White @greatwhitecon.info · 8d
Prompted by a regular reader, I've been experimenting with trying to persuade an LLM to accurately answer some scientific questions about #Arctic sea ice:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/11/grok...

Preliminary results obtained using xAI via Grok provide compelling empirical proof of Brandolini's Law:
A brief extract from a long conversation with Grok about Arctic sea ice. I point out to Grok that a supposed reference to Arctic data in the US Department of Energy's "Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate" actually refers to Antarctic data. In response xAI asserts that: "The DOE report explicitly references NSIDC Arctic sea ice data for its ~5% decline estimate since 1980, reflecting annual mean extent trends with noted post-2007 pauses, not Antarctic figures. The graph you shared shows Antarctic October anomalies with a near-flat slope, unrelated to the cited Arctic plot. Conflating hemispheres overlooks distinct regional dynamics—Arctic losses dominate seasonal minima, yet overall variability tempers linear projections—emphasizing empirical scrutiny over dismissal."
greatwhitecon.info
Here's a map of #Arctic sea ice thickness at the end of October:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/11/fact...

It's based on data from the CryoSat-2, Sentinel 3 and SMOS satellites.
A map of Arctic sea ice thickness on October 31st 2025. It's based on merged CryoSat-2, Sentinel 3 and SMOS data from the Alfred Wegener Institute.
November 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
greatwhitecon.info
FYI @thedisproof.bsky.social 👇

bsky.app/profile/grea...
greatwhitecon.info Snow White @greatwhitecon.info · 8d
Prompted by a regular reader, I've been experimenting with trying to persuade an LLM to accurately answer some scientific questions about #Arctic sea ice:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/11/grok...

Preliminary results obtained using xAI via Grok provide compelling empirical proof of Brandolini's Law:
A brief extract from a long conversation with Grok about Arctic sea ice. I point out to Grok that a supposed reference to Arctic data in the US Department of Energy's "Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate" actually refers to Antarctic data. In response xAI asserts that: "The DOE report explicitly references NSIDC Arctic sea ice data for its ~5% decline estimate since 1980, reflecting annual mean extent trends with noted post-2007 pauses, not Antarctic figures. The graph you shared shows Antarctic October anomalies with a near-flat slope, unrelated to the cited Arctic plot. Conflating hemispheres overlooks distinct regional dynamics—Arctic losses dominate seasonal minima, yet overall variability tempers linear projections—emphasizing empirical scrutiny over dismissal."
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
greatwhitecon.info
Prompted by a regular reader, I've been experimenting with trying to persuade an LLM to accurately answer some scientific questions about #Arctic sea ice:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/11/grok...

Preliminary results obtained using xAI via Grok provide compelling empirical proof of Brandolini's Law:
A brief extract from a long conversation with Grok about Arctic sea ice. I point out to Grok that a supposed reference to Arctic data in the US Department of Energy's "Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate" actually refers to Antarctic data. In response xAI asserts that: "The DOE report explicitly references NSIDC Arctic sea ice data for its ~5% decline estimate since 1980, reflecting annual mean extent trends with noted post-2007 pauses, not Antarctic figures. The graph you shared shows Antarctic October anomalies with a near-flat slope, unrelated to the cited Arctic plot. Conflating hemispheres overlooks distinct regional dynamics—Arctic losses dominate seasonal minima, yet overall variability tempers linear projections—emphasizing empirical scrutiny over dismissal."
November 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Snow White
polarbremen.bsky.social
Great to get the latest news about the AMSR3 instrument on the recently launched GOSAT-GW #satellite 🛰️, during the
JAXA PI meeting last week in #Tokyo. First data was shown and is looking great! 🥳 We are looking forward to make use of the new 183 GHz channels.
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Snow White
seaice.de
Operational processing and dissemination of the Level 3 SMOS Sea Ice Thickness product have resumed for the winter season 2025/26.

Unfortunately, RFI-induced data gaps continue to affect the #Barents–Kara sector of the #Arctic #Ocean.

🛰️🌊🌍

doi.org/10.57780/sm1...
SMOS sea ice thickness map for the Arctic on 15/10/2025 with some data gaps in the Barents–Kara or European Arctic sector of the Arctic Ocean.
October 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Snow White
bas.ac.uk
Let the science begin!

Spring has sprung in Antarctica, our aircraft have landed, and #RRSSirDavidAttenborough leaves the UK tomorrow.

This season our teams will deliver more than 60 science projects at research stations, on the ship, and in remote deep field and marine locations.

🧵 1/4
October 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Snow White
mariusarthun.bsky.social
The Arctic Ocean acts to stabilize the AMOC

New paper in #ScienceAdvances by researchers from @bjerknes.uib.no and @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social showing how ongoing Atlantification and sea ice loss leads to a strengthening of the Arctic overturning circulation.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Atlantification drives recent strengthening of the Arctic overturning circulation
A less ice-covered Arctic shifts dense water formation northward, strengthening the Arctic Ocean overturning circulation.
www.science.org
July 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Snow White
polarjournal.bsky.social
Our partner @fondationtaraocean.bsky.social has sent its unique and amazing Tara Polar Station to Svalbard, not only to start its ice trials but also to start its important scientific work. One of the projects is introduced here exclusively.
#science #Arctic
polarjournal.net/the-tara-pol...
The Tara Polar Station, on the front line of Arctic atlantification | Polar Journal
Oceanographer Benjamin Rabe plans to study the phenomenon of upwelling of warm water and nutrients already observed at the edges of the Arctic Ocean to see if it will extend towards the North Pole ove...
polarjournal.net
June 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
greatwhitecon.info
A largely cloud free satellite image of the central Northwest Passage shows that the prior melt ponds along the southern route have drained, and that melt ponds have now formed on the northern route through McClure Strait:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/the-...

#Arctic #SeaIce #NWP
A “false colour” image of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago on June 21st 2025 from the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite
June 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Snow White
skepticalscience.bsky.social
June 21 is #showyourstripes day and we encourage everybody to join and start conversations about climate risks and solutions with the help of the icon graphic created by @edhawkins.org in 2018, inspired by a blanket crocheted by @elliehighwood.bsky.social

skepticalscience.com/show-your-st...
Warming stripes - global 1850 - 2024
June 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
greatwhitecon.info
JAXA/ViSHOP #Arctic #SeaIce extent is now "lowest for the date" in their record going back to 1979:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/06/fact...
A graph of JAXA Arctic sea ice extent showing selected years from the 2010s and 2020s, dated June 19th 2025
June 20, 2025 at 10:07 AM
greatwhitecon.info
Sorry for the short notice, but I've only just discovered the existence of this interesting event: 👇
aaas.org American Association for the Advancement of Science @aaas.org · Jun 16
TODAY: Join science policy experts in the AAAS Office of Government Relations to get a breakdown of the FY26 budget. Together, we can voice the importance of sustained STEMM funding remaining a priority for Congress in the months ahead. Event is open to the public. buff.ly/c7Vxauk
June 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
greatwhitecon.info
It looks as though there will be an early start to the Northwest Passage sailing season this year:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/the-...

"The #SeaIce in Lancaster Sound and Prince Regent Inlet is breaking up, Bellot Strait is mostly open water, and surface melt has begun across Larsen Sound"
A “false colour” image of the eastern Canadian Arctic Archipelago on June 13th 2025 from the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite.
June 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
greatwhitecon.info
In an hour or two's time Ella Hibbert is due to begin a single handed circumnavigation of the #Arctic in her yacht Yeva, starting in southern England.

Much more on the condition of the sea ice in the Northwest Passage and on Yeva's voyage here:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/the-...

#EllaInTheArctic
An image of Ella Hibbert in her yacht Yeva The initial route plan for Ella Hibbert's attempt to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean in her yacht Yeva during the summer of 2025 The Canadian Ice Service's sea ice "stage of development" chart for the Western Arctic on May 19th 2025
May 24, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Snow White
mattlanza.bsky.social
As violent tornadoes tear across eastern Kentucky tonight, remember that because of DOGE initiated budget cuts, the Jackson, KY NWS office is forced to close at times (in quieter weather). That this is even something they need to worry about is an *utter disgrace.*
May 17, 2025 at 4:26 AM
greatwhitecon.info
Hopefully some of the folks from the @nsidc.bsky.social will be speaking on the #WeatherAndClimateLivestream too 👇
wclivestream.bsky.social The Weather & Climate Livestream @wclivestream.bsky.social · May 9
Calling all US meteorologists and climate scientists! Starting May 28th, we will be holding a marathon livestream to share our work with the public and show why the services we provide should not be cut. Learn more & sign up to speak here: wcstreamathon.netlify.app
The Weather & Climate Livestream
Join us starting May 28th, as meteorologists and climate scientists from across the US share their research and answer your questions.
wcstreamathon.netlify.app
May 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Snow White
wclivestream.bsky.social
Calling all US meteorologists and climate scientists! Starting May 28th, we will be holding a marathon livestream to share our work with the public and show why the services we provide should not be cut. Learn more & sign up to speak here: wcstreamathon.netlify.app
The Weather & Climate Livestream
Join us starting May 28th, as meteorologists and climate scientists from across the US share their research and answer your questions.
wcstreamathon.netlify.app
May 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
greatwhitecon.info
FYI @nsidc.bsky.social @seaice.de @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org @leohickman.carbonbrief.org @skepticalscience.bsky.social @carbonbrief.org 👇
jim-hunt.bsky.social Jim Hunt @jim-hunt.bsky.social · May 13
The West Devon Free Press's intrepid part time paparazzo was taking her dog for a walk around Roadford Lake when she suddenly spotted Donald Duck practising his Ig Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech 👇

Cc: @watershed-i.bsky.social @skentelbery.bsky.social

#Satire is not (yet) dead?

#ArtAI

1/n
May 13, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Reposted by Snow White
seaice.de
12 May 2020. Similar to what we recently saw with the M7.9 earthquake, this happens more frequently with sea ice.

🌊🧪⚒️
May 12, 2025 at 9:40 AM
greatwhitecon.info
Good morning @therealpotholer54.bsky.social (BST),

Are you already aware that the team behind #ClimateTheMovie are taking @briancoxtalks.bsky.social's image in vain in their most recent contender for the Ig Nobel Prize in climate science?

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/the-...

#TheGraphThatLied
May 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM
greatwhitecon.info
You may have noticed that Elmo and The Don are doing their utmost to decimate #climate science?

Earlier today my “professional” alter ego launched an “anti anti climate science” campaign over on LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/posts/soulsu...

Cc: @nsidc.bsky.social @climate.noaa.gov

1/n
The latest episode in the Trump administration's decimation of climate… | Jim Hunt
The latest episode in the Trump administration's decimation of climate science is now affecting my own "extra-curricular" activity on this side of the North Atlantic. According to a May...
www.linkedin.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
greatwhitecon.info
Unfortunately for Tom Nelson, Martin Durkin and the CO2 Coalition, the internet keeps receipts of airbrushing:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/pete...

#ClimateBrawl #ClimateTheMovie

Cc: @therealpotholer54.bsky.social @skepticalscience.bsky.social @geraldkutney.bsky.social @thedisproof.bsky.social
May 8, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Reposted by Snow White
zacklabe.com
Earlier today I was trying to look up something from a workshop I participated in last fall related to climate services, but sadly (no surprise)... www.noaa.gov/climate-conn...
Screenshot that says access denied for the NOAA website. This was for the workshop called Climate Connections 2.0
May 8, 2025 at 1:09 AM
greatwhitecon.info
It seems The Don's climate cuts are going to adversely affect my own work:

greatwhitecon.info/2025/05/trum...

"If you are a resident of the US you may also wish to contact your local friendly neighbourhood politician(s) about the matter?"

#Arctic #SeaIce #SII

Cc @nsidc.bsky.social @zacklabe.com
Effective May 5, 2025, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) will decommission its snow and ice data products from the Coasts, Oceans, and Geophysics Science Division (COGS). As a result, the level of services for affected products below will be reduced to Basic—meaning they will remain accessible but may not be actively maintained, updated, or fully supported. Sea Ice Index Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) Data Products Glacier Photograph Collection U.S. National Ice Center Arctic Sea Ice Charts and Climatologies in Gridded Format Gridded Monthly Sea Ice Extent and Concentration, 1850 Onward World Glacier Inventory If you rely on these products in your work, research, education, or planning, we invite you to share your story at nsidc@nsidc.org. Your input can help us demonstrate the importance of these data sets and advocate for future support.
May 8, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Reposted by Snow White
magic.bas.ac.uk
You might have spotted oval symbols on sea ice charts.
They’re not Easter eggs 🐣 — but they 𝘥𝘰 contain something inside: a compact summary of ice concentration, thickness, and floe size.
Ice chart titled “West Greenland Ice Chart” produced by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), valid as of 15 April 2025 at 21:05 UTC. The map displays the ice conditions along the west coast of Greenland. Diagram titled “What is the ice chart Egg Code?” explaining how to interpret the egg code used in sea ice charts. The central egg-shaped graphic is divided into labelled sections representing different attributes of sea ice.
April 18, 2025 at 8:33 AM