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Methane seen coming out of cracks in Arctic Sea ice...

More methane emissions lead to more warming, and more warming leads to more methane emissions.

As the Arctic warms due to global warming, the Arctic Ocean itself may be releasing vast amounts of methane, contributing to even more global warming, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Geoscience.

A new airborne study with NASA contributions measured surprising levels of the potent greenhouse gas methane coming from cracks in Arctic sea ice and areas of partial sea ice cover. This image was taken over the Arctic Ocean at a latitude of approximately 71 degrees North on April 15, 2010. (photo: NASA/JPL)

The researchers in the study led by Eric Kort of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., recorded higher levels of methane above cracks in Arctic sea ice and areas of partial sea ice cover. The openings allowed Arctic seawater to interact with the air and methane in the surface waters to escape into the atmosphere. Higher methane readings were not found above solid ice.

“It’s possible that as large areas of sea ice melt and expose more ocean water, methane production may increase, leading to larger methane emissions,” Kort said.
“As Arctic sea ice cover continues to decline in a warming climate, this source of methane may well increase," he added.

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/04/22-1#.T5xj9MJPrH0.facebook

http://worldofcae.blogspot.com The Green Planet blog

Australianisms – teaching the Poms to speak ‘Strayan

by Phoebe Lee

SINCE moving from Australia to London, I have been amazed at just how big the language barrier between myself and the British is. London-English (or Londglish as I have started calling it) is a whole new language to me.

I honestly never thought it would be an issue, in fact I have a very clear memory of my mum saying “Well, at least you’ll speak the language” when I told her I was moving to London. You were wrong mum, you were wrong.

There have been a number of incidents where I have had to use my ‘polite laugh’ to get me out of awkward social situations involving terms like Womble, Jedward, TOWIE or Vajazzle (I Google-imaged that last one and got a nasty surprise).

Then there are times when I say something as I normally would only to be met with horrified looks and later learn that those words mean something entirely different here i.e. “I think I’ll just wear pants and a top” (‘pants’ in Londglish means underwear) or “I’m just wearing my thongs to work tomorrow” (‘thongs’ in Londglish means g-string). That last one also raises the awkward question of why I would wear two at one time.

Slowly I am being taught how to speak Londglish, and in the process I am teaching my British colleagues how to speak Australian or ‘strayan’, as it should really be pronounced.

Here are the first few words I’ve imparted on Britain:

Read more here:

http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/voices/expat-issues/australianisms-teaching-the-poms-to-speak-strayan.htm

http://huttriver.blog.co.uk/2012/05/09/aussies-teaching-the-poms-to-speak-strayan-13650018/ Another story

http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/voices/returning-to-australia-%e2%80%93-what-a-culture-shock.htm Returning home: