One important factor is that the pattern of ice is dictated as much by
circulation patterns as warmer or colder conditions. As we know on this
group there has been a large are of high pressure to the west or even north
west of the British isles for a long time. The depressions have been less
deep than usual and the winds not so strong in this region. Strong winds
will tend to break up the ice pack. With lighter winds the drift of the ice
in the East Greenland current will be less impeded and the pack allowed to
grow.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon



"Col" wrote in message
...

"Bernard Burton" wrote in message
...
This afternoon's noaa images of the Iceland area show the drift/pack ice
is
now within 60km if the northwest tip of Iceland (Nord Cap). The East
Greenland ice is probably near its maximum area about now.
The area can be seen from an altitude of 845 km in:

http://www.btinternet.com/~wokingham...2-f-grn-e.html


I have been looking at this:
http://129.13.102.67/wz/pics/brack5.gif
over the past few days and have noticed that the extent of ice is larger
than I can ever recall seeing it over the past few years at least, even
allowing for the fact that we are now at the max ice time of year.

I believe that even in the good old days before global warming it was
very rare for there to be ice all the way from Greenland to Iceland and
yet
now we are not too far off that.

Is there anything significant in this I wonder, have things been much
colder than average up there this year?

Col
--
Bolton, Lancashire.
160m asl.
http://www.reddwarfer.btinternet.co.uk
http://www.reddwarfer.btinternet.co....rPictures.html