Tens of Thousands of Walruses Run Out of Sea Ice

SPECIES EXTINCTION
COLLAPSE OF BIODIVERSITY
SCENARIOS 998, 900, 444, 222, 114, 04, 02, 01
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Mass walrus haulout on Alaska shore as ice vanishes

The adult walruses, which can weigh about 1,225 kilograms, need sea ice as haulout platforms to rest, give birth, nurse and protect their young.

Pacific walruses have been hauling out on land in Alaska since 2006, as summer sea ice retreats, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

“The walruses are hauling out on land in a spectacle that has become all too common in six of the last eight years as a consequence of climate-induced warming. Summer sea ice is retreating far north of the shallow continental shelf waters of the Chukchi Sea in U.S. and Russian waters, a condition that did not occur a decade ago.  To keep up with their normal resting periods between feeding bouts to the seafloor, walruses have simply hauled out onto shore,” said USGS.

Hauling out refers to the behavior associated with seals and walruses of temporarily leaving the water to gather on land or ice. Watch a video.

About 35,000 walruses (~ 15 to 20 percent of the Pacific walrus population), hauled out on a beach in the Chukchi Sea near the village of Point Lay, Alaska, some 1130km (~ 700 miles) northwest of Anchorage because of lack of sea ice in this September 2014 photo taken by Corey Accardo / NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/NMML.

Onshore haulouts endangers female walruses and their calves, which can be trampled and killed during frequent stampedes.

Additionally, the walruses may be adversely affected hauling out on shore and using nearshore feeding areas, rather than their preferred behavior of using the ice as a haulout platform, on which to rest while remaining near rich feeding grounds, said USGS.

“One of the differences between this haul out and other ones is the sheer size and number of animals coming to shore,” said an ecologist with the USGS.

Arctic sea ice reached its minimum for the year on September 17, reported the National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This year’s retreat was “the sixth lowest extent in the satellite record and reinforces the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent.”

How Much Ice Melting in Arctic Sea?

Arctic ice extent fell 61% faster than average first half of July

Arctic ice cover declined at a rate of 132,000 km² per day during the first two weeks of July, which was 61% faster than the average, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

• The average rate of decline calculated over the period 1981 to 2010 is 82,000 km²/day.

• The fastest ice loss was observed in the Kara sea, where  temperatures were up to 5ºC above average, and East Greenland sea, followed by the Laptev Sea.

• Sea ice retreated slowest on the Pacific side,  especially in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

• Temperatures over Alaska, Siberia and the Canadian Arctic were up to 5ºC  below average.

The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of July 19, 2013, along with daily ice extent data for 2012, the record low year. 2013 is shown in blue, and 2012 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Sea Ice Index data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Arctic sea ice extent for July 19. The orange line shows the 1981 to 2010 median extent for that month. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Additional Data

• Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent at 15.13 million km²on March 10, five days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 10.
• The 2013 maximum ice extent was 733,000 km² below the 1979 to 2000, and became the 6th lowest in the satellite record, said NSIDC.
• The lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011; ten lowest maximums have occurred in the last ten years (2004 – 2013).

Related Links

• ‘Surreal’ Melt Season Begins in Arctic Sea March 26, 2013
• Antarctic Flood Forms ‘Ice Crater’ July 2, 2013
• Arctic Sea Ice Extent Could Fall to 3M Km² Sept. 3, 2012

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Rapidly Decreasing

Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent drops below 4.5 million km²: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH estimates the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent dropped below 4.5 million km² on August 19, 2012.

A week earlier (August 13, 2012), the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent was 5.09 million square kilometers (1.97 million square miles), which was 2.69 million km² below the 1979 to 2000 average extent for the date, and 483,000 km² below the previous record low set in 2007, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

FEWW model shows the Arctic sea ice extent could fall below 3.8 million km² during the 2012 melt season with a probability of 0.7 [P≥65%]

Arctic ice cover shrank to a new record low of 4.28 km² in 2007, about 23 percent below the previous record set in 2005 and almost 40 percent lower than the 1979 – 2000 average.

Arctic Ice Cover Maps for August 13 and 19, 2012. Source: NSIDC

Arctic Sea Ice Extent: Area of ocean with at least 15% sea ice. Source: NSIDC

The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of August 13, 2012, along with daily ice extent data for the previous five years. 2012 is shown in blue, 2011 in orange, 2010 in pink, 2009 in navy, 2008 in purple, and 2007 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Source: NSIDC

“The average pace of ice loss since late June has been rapid at just over 100,000 square kilometers (38,000 square miles) per day. However, this pace nearly doubled for a few days in early August during a major Arctic cyclonic storm,” said NSIDC.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Arctic sea ice may fall to record lows

Arctic ice extent for August fell to 2nd lowest level for the month on satellite record

• Monthly August ice extent for 1979 to 2011 shows a decline of 9.3% per decade.

• Greenhouse gases are responsible for half of Arctic ice cover retreat from 1979 to 2005: Study

READ THIS FIRST

Continued hacking and content censorship

In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

WordPress is HACKING this blog!

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 7

[September 7, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,652 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Arctic Ocean. Satellite data processed by the University of Bremen showed Arctic ice extent on September 5 fell below the same date in 2007.
• Greenhouse gases are responsible for half of Arctic ice cover retreat from 1979 to 2005.
• August average Arctic sea ice extent in 2011 fell to the second lowest level for the month since records began in 1979, NSIDC reported.
• In August, ice extent retreated at a faster than average   pace of 67,700 km²/day . The average decline rate for August 1979 to 2000 was 53,700 km²/day.
• Average ice extent for August 2011 was 5.52 million km², or 160,000 km² above the record low set inAugust 2007, and 2.15 million km² or 28% below the average for 1979 to 2000.
• On August 31, 2011 Arctic ice extent was 4.63 million km², or 100,000 km² above the previous record low for the same date, set in 2007.
• Air temperatures were up to 4 degrees Celsius higher than average (relative to the 1981 to 2010 climatology) over the Arctic Ocean (measured about 1km above the surface).
• The ice will continue to melt for another couple of weeks.
• Monthly August ice extent for 1979 to 2011 shows a decline of 9.3% per decade.

Sea ice data updated daily, with one-day lag. Orange line in extent image (left) and gray line in time series (right) indicate 1979 to 2000 average extent for the day shown. Click for high-resolution image. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

Monthly August ice extent for 1979 to 2011 shows a decline of 9.3% per decade. Credit: NSIDC

Other Disasters

Texas Wildfire Stats (issued by TFS)

• Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2011
• National Preparedness Level: 3
• Southern Area Preparedness Level: 4
• TFS Preparedness Level: 5

• “Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 19 new fires for 1,490 acres, including new large fires in Red River and Rusk counties. In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 172 fires for 135,051 acres.”
• “An assessment has been completed on the Bastrop County Complex and 785 homes have been reported destroyed. An additional 238 have been reported lost on other fires in the past three days, for a total of approximately 1,023.”

• Texas governor Rick Perry is on record as saying climate change  is essentially a hoax:
• “I just happen to believe the Earth’s temperature has been moving up and down for millenniums now.” Claiming that scientists disagree on the cause he added, “I happen to be one who is skeptical.”
• “To spend billions of dollars” addressing an issue like that, Perry said, is “not in America’s best interests.
• “I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And I think we are seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists are coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change. I don’t think, from my perspective, that I want America to be engaged in spending that much money on still a scientific theory that has not been proven, and from my perspective, is more and more being put into question.” Perry said.
• In April Perry issued an official proclamation asking “Texans of all faiths and traditions” to pray for rain over the three-day Easter weekend.
• “Now, therefore, I, Rick Perry, governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas,” the proclamation, posted on the governor’s website, began.
• Perry should know that prayers without a “vow of repentance,” a “plea for forgiveness” and a “promise of abstinence” invariably backfire, in his case literally!

Related Links

• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S. FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities EDRO Forecast
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Fresh Water, Anyone?

Giant ice island calves off Greenland glacier

Greenland glacier calves ice island 4 times the size of Manhattan, UD  researcher reports

An “ice island” four times larger than Manhattan calved from Greenland’s Petermann Glacier on August 5, 2010, the biggest such event in the Arctic in 48 years, Andreas Muenchow, a researcher at the University of Delaware reported.

The new ice island is about 100 square miles (60 square km) with a thickness up to half the height of the Empire State Building (height 450m), Muenchow said.

“The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware or Hudson Rivers flowing for more than two years. It could also keep all U.S. public tap water flowing for 120 days.”

Satellite image acquired on Aug. 5, 2010, shows the huge ice island calved from Greenland’s Petermann Glacier. Source: Prof. Andreas Muenchow, University of Delaware.

“Petermann Glacier, the parent of the new ice island, is one of the two largest remaining glaciers in Greenland that terminate in floating shelves. The glacier connects the great Greenland ice sheet directly with the ocean.” UDel reported.

Greenland’s Petermann Glacier in 2009. Source: Prof. Andreas Muenchow, University of Delawar

The ice island is expected to enter Nares Strait, a waterway between northern Greenland and Canada.

“In Nares Strait, the ice island will encounter real islands that are all much smaller in size,” Muenchow said. “The newly born ice-island may become land-fast, block the channel, or it may break into smaller pieces as it is propelled south by the prevailing ocean currents. From there, it will likely follow along the coasts of Baffin Island and Labrador, to reach the Atlantic within the next two years.”

More…

Related Links:

• May Global Temperature Warmest on Record
• Welcome to Anthropogenic Hell 2010
• Greenland Glacier Slides Much Faster in Summer
• Valley of the Rocks Avalanche: Deafening Thunder
• Collapse Headlines – 15 July 2010

• 2010 Disaster Calendar [April]
• Greenland Ice Sheet Losing Ice Mass
• Iceberg off Mertz Glacier ‘disrupt ocean currents’?
• The Great Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf Extinction
• Arctic ice cover third-smallest area on record

• Bay of Bengal Island Disappears
• Collapse Diary

Welcome to Anthropogenic Hell 2010

Man-made Hell’s Fury – Just Wait and See …

Warmest April Global Temperature Ever Recorded: NOAA

2010 January-April Also Warmest on Record

As of posting, global temperatures in some parts of world are about 30 to 45 days ahead of their seasonal norms.

April 2010 and the period from January-April recorded the warmest combined global land and ocean surface temperature, NOAA said. “Additionally, last month’s average ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for any April, and the global land surface temperature was the third warmest on record.”

(Credit: NOAA) - Click image to enlarge.

The following is a summary of highlights from NOAA’s Temperature Report:

• At 58.1°F (14.5°C), the combined April global land and ocean average surface temperature was the warmest on record,  1.37°F (0.76°C) above the 20th century average of 56.7°F (13.7°C).

• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature was the warmest on record for January-April at 56.0°F (13.3°C), which is 1.24°F (0.69°C) above the 20th century average.
• The global ocean surface temperature was 1.03°F (0.57°C) above the 20th century average of 60.9°F (16.0°C) and the warmest on record for April. The warmth was most pronounced in the equatorial portions of the major oceans, especially the Atlantic.
• The global land surface temperature was 2.32°F (1.29°C) above the 20th century average of 46.5 °F (8.1°C) — the third warmest on record for April. Warmer-than-normal conditions dominated the globe, with the most prominent warmth in Canada, Alaska, the eastern United States, Australia, South Asia, northern Africa and northern Russia. Cooler-than-normal places included Mongolia, Argentina, far eastern Russia, the western contiguous United States and most of China.
• El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weakened in April, as sea-surface temperature anomalies decreased across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The weakening contributed significantly to the warmth observed in the tropical belt and the warmth of the overall ocean temperature for April. According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, El Niño is expected to continue through June.

Other Heat-Related Highlights

• Arctic ice cover fell below normal for the 11th consecutive April, covering about 5.7 million square miles (14.7 million square kilometers). This is 2.1 percent below the 1979-2000 average extent and the 15th smallest April extent since records began in 1979. It was, however, the largest April Arctic sea ice extent since 2001.
  

  (Credit: NOAA) - Click image to enlarge.

• Antarctic sea ice extent in April was 0.3 percent below the 1979-2000 average.
• Snow cover extent was the fourth-lowest on record (since 1967), and below the 1967-2010 average for the Northern Hemisphere for the seventh consecutive April. Warmer-than-normal conditions over North America, Europe and parts of Russia contributed to less snow.
• The North American snow cover extent for April was the smallest on record for April. It also was the largest negative anomaly, meaning difference below the long-term average, on record for any month.
• Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania had their warmest 12-month period since their records began.
• According to the Beijing Climate Center, China experienced its coolest April since 1961. Liaoning, Jilin and Shandong had their coolest April on record. Hebei, Anhui and Jiangsu had their second coolest April since records began in 1951.
• China recorded its wettest April 36 years  and Tibet had its wettest ever April on record in 59 years. Germany had its second-driest April on record since 109 years,  behind 2007, German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst) said.

Related Links:

• Ocean Accumulated Significant Heat Content Since 1993
• Greenland Glacier Slides Much Faster in Summer
• Verifiable Impacts of Climate Change (Part II)
• Verifiable Impacts of Climate Change Despite Dinosaurs

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Serial No 1,748. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash

Chikungunya is coming!

Chikungunya is hyper-endemic in the islands of the Indian Ocean. Travel by air will import the infected mosquitoes and humans —Dr James Diaz

The ink hadn’t quite dried on

Arctic ice cover third-smallest area on record

in which the FEWW Moderators, discussing the dire effects of climate change on human health,  wrote:

‘Warmer [and dirtier] waters increase mosquito reproduction, which in turn increase the incidence of  mosquito-borne infectious diseases.’

When the news of  Chikungunya arrived.

Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease, much worse than the West Nile virus, could become the next nightmare epidemic in the US and Europe.

Stegomyia aegypti (formerly Aedes aegypti) mosquito siting on a human. Photo: USDA.

Who’s Afraid of Chikungunya?

“We’re very worried,” Dr. James Diaz of the Louisiana University Health Sciences Center told a meeting on airlines, airports and disease transmission sponsored by the independent U.S. National Research Council.

“Unlike West Nile virus, where nine out of 10 people are going to be totally asymptomatic, or may have a mild headache or a stiff neck, if you get Chikungunya you’re going to be sick,” he said.

“The disease can be fatal. It’s a serious disease [and] there is no vaccine.” Diaz added.

The virus can be carried by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is abundant in  Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe, the Americas.

Chikungunya has also been reported in the islands of Mauritius, Seychelles and Reunion, in the Indian ocean, which are among prime beach resorts destinations visited by European tourists.

“It is hyper-endemic in the islands of the Indian Ocean,” Diaz told the meeting.

“Travel by air will import the infected mosquitoes and humans. Chikungunya is coming.” Diaz added.”

What’s Chikungunya

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes.  Chikungunya virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus, in the family Togaviridae. Chikungunya fever is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., joint swelling), laboratory testing, and the possibility of exposure to infected mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya fever; care is based on symptoms. Chikungunya infection is not usually fatal. Steps to prevent infection with chikungunya virus include use of insect repellent, protective clothing, and staying in areas with screens. Chikungunya virus was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in 1953, and has since been cited as the cause of numerous human epidemics in many areas of Africa and Asia and most recently in limited areas of Europe.—CDC

Chikungunya Distribution and Global Map

The geographic range of chikungunya virus is mainly in Africa and Asia.  Given the current large chikungunya virus epidemics and the worldwide distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, there is a risk of importing chikungunya virus into new area through infected travelers. —CDC

Countries where people have become infected with chikungunya virus.
Benin	Mayotte
Burundi	Myanmar
Cambodia	Nigeria
Cameroon	Pakistan
Central African Republic	Philippines
Comoros	Reunion
Congo, DRC	Senegal
East Timor	Seychelles
Gabon	Singapore
Guinea	South Africa
India	Sri Lanka
Indonesia	Sudan
Italy	Taiwan
Kenya	Tanzania
Laos	Thailand
Madagascar	Uganda
Malawi	Vietnam
Malaysia	Zimbabwe
Mauritius
This list does not include countries where only imported cases have been reported.

Chikungunya Fact Sheet (CDC update: March 4, 2008)

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in 1953, and has since been cited as the cause of numerous human epidemics in many areas of Africa and Asia, and most recently in a limited area of Europe.

What causes chikungunya fever?
Chikungunya fever is caused by a virus which belongs to the genus Alphavirus, in the family Togaviridae.

How do humans become infected with chikungunya virus?
Humans become infected with chikungunya virus by the bite of an infected mosquito. Aedes aegypti, a household container breeder and aggressive daytime biter which is attracted to humans, is the primary vector of chikungunya virus to humans. Aedes albopictus has also played a role in human transmission.

What can people do to prevent becoming infected with chikungunya virus?
The best way to prevent chikungunya virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or preventive drug currently available. Prevention tips are similar to those for other viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue or West Nile:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 on exposed skin. Always follow the directions on the package.
• Wear long sleeves and pants (ideally treat clothes with permethrin or another repellent).
• Have secure screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
• Get rid of mosquito sources in your yard by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
• Additionally, a person with chikungunya fever should limit their exposure to mosquito bites to avoid further spreading the infection. The person should use repellents when outdoors exposed to mosquito bites or stay indoors in areas with screens or under a mosquito net.

What is the basic chikungunya virus transmission cycle?
Mosquitoes become infected with chikungunya virus when they feed on an infected person. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other humans when they bite them. Monkeys, and possibly other wild animals, may also serve as reservoirs of the virus. Aedes aegypti, a household container breeder and aggressive daytime biter which is attracted to humans, is the primary vector of chikungunya virus to humans. Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) has also played a role in human transmission is Asia, Africa, and Europe. Various forest-dwelling mosquito species in Africa have been found to be infected with the virus.

What type of illness does chikungunya virus cause?
Chikungunya virus infection can cause a debilitating illness, most often characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash, and joint pain. “Silent” chikungunya virus infections (infections without illness) do occur; but how commonly this happens is not yet known. Chikungunya virus infection (whether clinically apparent or silent) is thought to confer life-long immunity. Acute chikungunya fever typically lasts a few days to a couple of weeks, but as with dengue, West Nile fever, o’nyong-nyong fever and other arboviral fevers, some patients have prolonged fatigue lasting several weeks. Additionally, some patients have reported incapacitating joint pain, or arthritis which may last for weeks or months.

What is the incubation period for chikungunya fever?
The incubation period (time from infection to illness) can be 2-12 days, but is usually 3-7 days.

Can pregnant women become infected with chikungunya virus and pass the infection to their child?
Pregnant women can become infected with chikungunya virus during all stages of pregnancy and have symptoms similar to other individuals. Most infections will not result in the virus being transmitted to the fetus. The highest risk for infection of the fetus/child occurs when a woman has virus in her blood (viremic) at the time of delivery. There are also rare reports of first trimester abortions occurring after chikungunya infection. Pregnant women should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Products containing DEET can be used in pregnancy without adverse effects.

Can the virus be transmitted to a child by breastfeeding?
Currently, there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted through breast milk

What is the mortality rate of chikungunya fever?
Fatalities related to chikungunya virus are rare and appear to be associated to increased age.

How is chikungunya virus infection treated?
There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment currently available for chikungunya fever. Treatment is symptomatic and can include rest, fluids, and medicines to relieve symptoms of fever and aching such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or paracetamol. Aspirin should be avoided. Infected persons should be protected from further mosquito exposure (staying indoors in areas with screens and/or under a mosquito net) during the first few days of the illness so they can not contribute to the transmission cycle.

Where does chikungunya virus occur?
The geographic range of the virus is primarily in Africa and Asia. For information on current outbreaks, consult CDC’s Travelers’ Health website (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx). Given the current large chikungunya virus epidemics and the world wide distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, there is a risk of importation of chikungunya virus into new areas by infected travelers.

Content source:

Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases

Related Links:

• Arctic ice cover third-smallest area on record
• Malaria parasites resist old drugs, need new ones!
• A Living Hell Heated by Australian Coal

Arctic ice cover third-smallest area on record

Data reinforces strong negative trend in summertime Arctic sea ice cover

Arctic sea ice cover seems to have reached its minimum extent for 2009, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), its third-lowest extent on record (the satellite measurements began in 1979). “While this year’s minimum extent is above the record and near-record minimums of the last two years, it further reinforces the strong negative trend in summertime ice extent observed over the past thirty years.”

Daily Arctic sea ice extent on September 12 was 5.10 million square kilometers (1.97 million square miles). The orange line shows the 1979 to 2000 median extent for that day. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Summary of Conditions

Arctic sea ice cover fell to 5.10 million square kilometers (1.97 million square miles) on September 12, 2009, which appears to have been the lowest point of the year, since sea ice has now entered  its annual growth growth due to autumn cooling. “The 2009 minimum is the third-lowest recorded since 1979, 580,000 square kilometers (220,000 square miles) above 2008 and 970,000 square kilometers (370,000 square miles) above the record low in 2007.” NSIDC reported.

The 2009 minimum ice cover

• 1.61 million square kilometers (620,000 square miles) below the 1979 to 2000 average minimum and
• 1.28 million square kilometers (490,000 square miles) below the thirty-year 1979 to 2008 average minimum.

The graph above shows daily sea ice extent as of September 15, 2009. The solid light blue line indicates 2009; dark blue shows 2008, dashed green indicates 2007; light green shows 2005, and solid gray indicates average extent from 1979 to 2000. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Sea Ice Index data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Conditions in context

This year, the minimum extent did not fall as low as the minimums of the last two years, because temperatures through the summer were relatively cooler. The Chukchi and Beaufort seas were especially cool compared to 2007. Winds also tended to disperse the ice pack over a larger region.

While the ice extent this year is higher than the last two years, scientists do not consider this to be a recovery. Despite conditions less favorable to ice loss, the 2009 minimum extent is still 24% below the 1979-2000 average, and 20% below the thirty-year 1979-2008 average minimum. In addition, the Arctic is still dominated by younger, thinner ice, which is more vulnerable to seasonal melt. The long-term decline in summer extent is expected to continue in future years.

This image compares differences in ice-covered areas between September 12, 2009, the date of this year’s minimum, and September 16, 2007, the record low minimum extent. Light gray shading indicates the region where ice occurred in both 2007 and 2009, while white and dark gray areas show ice cover unique to 2009 and to 2007, respectively. Sea Ice Index data. About the data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Comparison of the 2009 and 2007 September minima

The spatial pattern of the 2009 minimum extent was different than that of 2007, partly because of differing wind patterns. Compared to this year, 2007 had substantially more ice loss in the central Arctic, north of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas because winds pushed ice in these regions northward. However, this year the Arctic lost more ice in the Beaufort Sea than 2007 because of southwesterly winds pushing the ice edge toward the northeast. Overall, the pattern of ice loss is similar to 2008 (not shown), although it resulted from different atmospheric circulation patterns.

Once again this year, the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic Ocean along the coast of Siberia opened. Although some ice remained in certain regions, two German ships managed to navigate the passage with Russian icebreaker escorts. Russian vessels have traversed the passage many times over the years, but as ice extent drops there is more interest from other nations. As in 2008, the shallow Amundsen’s Northwest Passage briefly opened, but the deeper Parry’s Channel of the Northwest Passage did not. In 2007, both channels were open.

Notes on interpretation of  “minimum”

To overcome the seasonal variability of sea ice, NSIDC uses a five-day running mean value to decide the minimum cover. “We have now seen four days of gains in extent. It is still possible that ice extent could fall slightly, because of either further melting or a contraction in the area of the pack due to the motion of the ice.”

“For example, in 2005, the time series began to level out in early September, prompting speculation that we had reached the minimum. However, the sea ice contracted later in the season, again reducing sea ice extent and causing a further drop in the absolute minimum. When all the data for September are in, we will confirm the minimum ice extent for the season.” NSIDC said.

Final analysis pending

NSIDC says it will issue a formal press release in early October, “with full analysis of the melt season, and graphics comparing this year to the long-term record.”  They will also report the monthly average September sea ice cover, “the measure scientists rely on for accurate analysis and comparison over the long term. ” They will also  continue to report  their analysis of sea ice conditions as frequently as the changing sea ice conditions demands. They will also continue to update their near-real-time daily image of the ice extent.

How does the loss of ice cover affect us and other animals?

• Pristine Arctic regions would be spoiled by additional shipping, as new maritime routes open.
• The Arctic ice cap, regulats Earth’s climate system by reflecting sunlight back into space, among other functions.
• Less ice also means darker, more sunlight-absorbing sea surface which additionally accelerate the climate change positive feedback loop, contributing to chaotic climate patterns.
• Polar bears and many marine species lose their habitats.
• Warmer [and dirtier] waters increase mosquito reproduction, which in turn increase the incidence of infectious diseases.
• For other damaging effects, see links below.

Related Links:

• Climate Change: For what you’re about to receive…
• Arctic Warmest in 2000 Years
• Another Ocean Record Broken
• US glaciers shrinking dramatically
• Alaska: One Fire Away From Exporting Charcoal

• Alaska on Fire
• Arctic Tundra 4ºC Hotter Since 1970
• US Gov Releases Intelligence Images of Arctic Ice
• Strong Quake Strikes Baffin Bay
• For more links click  here >> Polar Ice Caps

Arctic sea ice has thinned dramatically

Arctic sea ice thinned dramatically between the winters of 2004 and 2008—NASA

Analysis of data from a NASA Earth-orbiting spacecraft shows that “Arctic sea ice thinned dramatically between the winters of 2004 and 2008, with thin seasonal ice replacing thick older ice as the dominant type for the first time on record.”  The latest discovery “provide further evidence for the rapid, ongoing transformation of the Arctic’s ice cover.”

ICESat measures the distances to the top of the snow cover and to the sea surface. The difference between the two quantities gives the total “freeboard” measurement; that is, the amount of ice above the water line relative to the local sea level. Credit: Courtesy of Norbert Untersteiner, University of Washington

NASA says their and the University of Washington in Seattle researchers carried out “the most comprehensive survey to date using observations from NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat,” to determine “the first basin-wide estimate of the thickness and volume of the Arctic Ocean’s ice cover.”  Their research team, led by Ron Kwok of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., published its findings on July 7 in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans.

This schematic shows the geometric relationship between freeboard (the amount of ice above the water line), snow depth, and ice thickness. Buoyancy causes a fraction (about 10 percent) of sea ice to stick out above the sea surface. By knowing the density of the ice and applying “Archimedes’ Principle” — an object immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object — the total thickness of the ice can be calculated. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

ICESat measurements of winter multi-year ice cover in the Arctic Ocean between 2004 and 2008, along with the corresponding downward trend in overall winter sea ice volume, and switch in dominant ice type from multi-year ice to first-year ice. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

ICESat measurements of winter multi-year ice cover in the Arctic Ocean between 2004 and 2008, along with the corresponding downward trend in overall winter sea ice volume, and switch in dominant ice type from multi-year ice to first-year ice. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

Data visualization of Arctic sea ice thickness, as measured by ICESat, shows the decline of the thickest ice (white, 4 to 5 meters thick) and increase in thinner ice (deep blue, 0 to 1 meter) from 2003 to 2008. Credit: NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio.

Data visualization of ice thickness, as measured by ICESat, shows the yearly growth (winter) and retreat (fall) of ice in the Arctic Ocean. Credit: NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio

More Images Available at Source

Related Links:

• Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Lowest Coverage For 2008
• Satellites Show Arctic Literally on Thin Ice

FEWW Links

• Strong Quake Strikes Baffin Bay