According to Daily Galaxy:

Melting in northern Greenland lasted up to 18 days longer than previous maximum values. The melting index (i.e. the number of melting days times the area subject to melting) was three times greater than the 1979–2007 average.

The snowmelt and temperature anomalies occurred near Ellesmere Island, where several ice shelf break-ups were observed this summer. The region where the record melting days were recorded includes the Petermann glacier, which lost 29 square kilometers in July . . .

[Earth scientist Marco] Tedesco explains to The Daily Galaxy that he doesn’t know for certain if this rapid snowmelt suggests that global warming might be happening faster than predicted? “At this stage of the analysis it is not possible to draw any conclusion in this regard,” he noted. Professor Tedesco and his colleagues are currently analyzing possible causes for the high snowmelt in northern Greenland. High surface temperatures are, so far, the most evident factor. However other factors, such as solar radiation, could play a role, as well, he noted.

Tedesco and other geologists will continue studying the region next year, to get further data. Here come the Arctic shipping lanes! Photo via AP.

[via Daily Galaxy]

The ship will be a small town, generating 55 megawatts of power and housing 120 people. Scientists on board will study the role of the polar waters in global climate change and the movement of contaminants through the water, air and ice. The Aurora also will have two "moon pools" in the bottom of its hull, giving access to the water under the ice for underwater vehicles studying the explosion of life that happens in the polar seas every spring.

The main problem is figuring out who owns this ship. The Aurora Borealis is a joint venture between the ESF, the Germans, the Russians and possibly other European countries. So where does it dock when it's at home? More importantly, who do we sue if (when) it crashes and spills tons of oil all over the North Pole? Hopefully all this uncertainty will make the organizers way more cautious about wreaking damage on the environment they're trying to study. We can only hope. The Aurora Borealis is expected to launch in 2014. [Science Daily]