On Apr 21, 6:09*am, "Col" wrote:

Only in January, the ice this year was at an all time low, I see you
don't mention that!

How would the January thermocline behave in a relatively low ice
Arctic?

Freezing water would drop toward the bottom of a relatively saline
column unless it got cold enough to actually freeze before it did so.
What are the chances of ice forming there in that case?

I'd say pretty low if I were asked. Fortunately nobody asked.
Ice is a mark of relatively calm conditions. Mixing or forcing will be
the true cause of poor ice formation.

But mixing is a condition required for fertility in marine
environments. I'd say things are looking healthy rather than
desperate, if I were asked. Fortunately nobody asked.

As for vulcanicity affecting things. Insofar as they are a sign of a
relatively negative NAO, volcanoes erupting seem to indicate greater
mixing in the Arctic as more North Atlantic cyclones go straight there
rather than waste time tracking to and fro from Canada to Norway.

Add to that the fact that airborne toxins such as sulphur and trace
elements spewed out by volcanoes seem to be a perquisite for rich fish
stocks.

The only thing spoiling things at the moment is the way humans are
raping the environment. I am sure that god will run out of patience
before too long and do away with such largess.