Global warming is not causing any significant retreat of polar ice caps, despite claims to the contrary in some media reports, says James M. Taylor, senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland Institute.Although Arctic sea ice last summer reached its minimum extent since satellites began measuring the ice in 1979, NASA scientists have discovered the sea ice retreated due to variable local wind patterns rather than global warming. Moreover, the ice re-formed at a record pace last fall.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Antarctic sea ice is at its greatest extent in recorded history. The majority of Antarctica is in a prolonged cold spell and has been accumulating snow and ice for decades.

For more information on polar ice caps, see the following documents.

Latest Antarctic Sea Ice Extent
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/latest_antarctic_sea_ice_extent2/

Escalating Ice Loss Found in Antarctica
Sheets Melting in an Area Once Thought to Be Unaffected by Global Warming
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/artic_ice_loss.html

Arctic Sea Ice Unaffected by Global Warming
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22375

Antarctic Sea Ice Sets Records in Oct.
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22362

Renewable Energy Advocates Tell Half the Story
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22040

Natural Forces Influence Arctic Sea Ice Retreat
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21258

Disaster on Thin Ice
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=9771

If you have any questions about this issue, you may contact James M. Taylor, The Heartland Institute’s senior fellow for environment policy, at 914/776-5690 or taylor@heartland.org.

For more information about The Heartland Institute, contact Harriette Johnson, Heartland’s media relations manager at 312/377-4000 or email at hjohnson@heartland.org.

Special thanks to Ed Weyer for sharing this information.