'Astonishing' Arctic ice melt sets new record

Richard Harris — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 23:46:33 +0000

Arctic sea ice has melted dramatically this summer, smashing the previous record. The Arctic has warmed dramatically compared with the rest of the planet, and scientists say that's what's driving this loss of ice.

To be sure, ice on the Arctic Ocean always melts in the summer. Historically, about half of it is gone by mid-September. But this year, three-fourths of the ice has melted away, setting a dramatic new benchmark.

"It didn't just touch the record, it really drove right through it," says Ted Scambos at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, at the University of Colorado.

Shell can start drilling preparations in Alaska's Chukchi Sea

The Associated Press and Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:21:49 +0000

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says Royal Dutch Shell will be allowed to begin preparation work at exploratory drilling sites in the Chukchi