Green Daily

The Arctic lost less ice this summer than last. Summers can spell the most damage to the Arctic ice cap, but cool temperatures and cloudy days slowed the thaw. But only by a tenth. Instead of shrinking to 1.6 million square miles, as it did last year, this year the ice only shrunk to 1.7 million square miles.

Can't you just hear the penguins and polar bears singing with glee the way they might in that Jeep commercial?

Well, don't get too excited penguins and ice lovers. Earlier this month we reported that scientists believe the Arctic may be in a death spiral. Sadly, that's still the case. Researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Col. say that this year's cooler conditions and cloud cover slowed down the melt, but it still came within 10% of last year's record melt. That's surprising because 2007's weather was much more favorable for melting.

Arctic autumn has arrived, and scientists believe ice floes will be slightly thicker than last fall. And at this point all they can do is cross their fingers and hope for a very cold winter, spring and summer.

[via BBC]