clv101

Greenland is currently losing mass in two ways; surface melting with resulting runoff and iceberg calving from marine terminating glaciers. Over time we can expect some of these glaciers to retreat, pull their feet out of the water and prevent the second of these two forms of mass loss. We need to be careful extrapolating trends when we have recent to believe processes may change.I'll also add that elevation feedback is likely to become more important as we reach the ice sheet's tipping point. The ice sheet is only there today because it has its head in the clouds, it's a relic of the last ice age. Elevation feedback represents a hysteresis loop, with any significant lowering we can expect increased surface melt.

Where do you see live information on the barrage? It was due to be closed on Tuesday for the equinoctial tide but Monday's tide is almost as high. Coupled with the low pressure, right direction winds and large rainfall in the Thames catchment over the weekend this could be a problem no?

I've just written a blog post about the combination of spring high tide and the low pressure system: High Tide Alert It's the first time I've blogged about the weather, go easy me! I'm interested in how accurate surface pressure forecasts tend to be three days out. What's the margin of error on pressure and location on Monday and Tuesday, as forecast on Friday?

No, things are very different now regarding energy. See these three articles: Aug 27th UK Gas and Electricity Crisis Looming Oct 9th UK Energy Part 1: The Winter Outlook Oct 9th UK Energy Part 2: 2005 Quarter 2 Update To talk of the winters of '91 and '87 isn't helpful, we are far more vulnerable now than we were then. Much less gas, oil and coal and less spare capacity in energy systems. Last winter was 6th warmest in 77 years yet due to gas shortages there was a 4-fold increase in interruptions. An 'average' winter would have a pretty bad effect this year, vast industrial disruption. A 1 in 10 or even 1 in 20 cold winter would be disastrous.

Haven't heard much about the storm surge for a while... it was just announced by the homeland security guy that the pumps in New Orleans have now failed. Also a reporter in the Superdome is reporting roof failing and rain entering the building.

A few minutes ago they were still forcasting 12mph winds for today!

It's here: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pi...ersion=0&max=51 and here: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/la/allwarnings.html both .gov sites so I guess it's real?

One last look at New Orleans before it gets wiped off the map.

With the levies protecting the city only designed to 15 feet, but they have settled and are more like 12 feet now. Well below the storm surge. It'll be wet.

Apparently pressure drop has just been measured as 915mbar... is that low?

24/7 local TV hurricane coverage: http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmP...&props=livenoad

This could be very serious. --More--Here's the latest map: Updates available here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_a...5105.shtml?5day So why is this so serious? Well, take a look at this map of oil rigs off the Louisiana coast: http://www.rodnreel.com/gps/semisub.asp And this map of Louisiana's refineries: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/state/la.html The oil price could go through the roof when the market opens on Monday.