Saturday 28 December 2013

Australian climate change professor who warned about melting East Antarctic remains trapped in thick ice

"there is an increasing body of evidence, including by the AAE members, that have identified parts of the East Antarctic which are highly susceptible to melting and collapse from ocean warming"

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition

The reality:

Chris Turney, the leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (and Professor of Climate Change at the University of New South Wales) who, together with 73 scientists, tourists and crew is trapped in thick Antarctic ice, is still waiting to be rescued.

This is the latest tweet from Turney:

@ProfChrisTurney

Still waiting. #spiritofmawson Alok Jha vine.co/v/h9tqx3bWgVx
 
 
Even the Chinese icebreaker which was supposed to rescue the professor and his team had to retreat:
 
Passengers aboard an ice-bound cruise ship trapped off the coast of Antarctica cheered Friday night when they spotted the Chinese ice-breaker Snow Dragon on the horizon.
"There's a lot of relief among the team and a lot of happy faces," said expedition leader Chris Turney in a video posted on YouTube.
However, the jubilance was short-lived.
The Snow Dragon icebreaker came within 7 miles of the stranded ship but had to retreat after the ice became too thick, expedition spokesman Alvin Stone told the Associated Press. France's L'Astrolabe made it to the edge of the sea ice surrounding the ship, too, but also called off its mission for the same reason.
Turney, professor of climate change at the University of New South Wales, Australia, has been tweeting and blogging the adventure, and has become a minor celebrity of sorts. Using tools unimaginable to adventurers who explored the frozen continent a century ago, his reports recorded in howling blizzard winds show the enthusiasm and nonchalance of a real-life Indiana Jones.
 
 
      

4 comments:

Bikerdave said...

"howling blizzard winds show the enthusiasm and nonchalance of a real-life Indiana Jones" Ya right! They are with state of the art equipment to somehow simulate a previous expedition, not really a brave man there knowing at last resort they can get airlifted out:)

A K Haart said...

I hope these guys are rescued eventually and come to no harm, but meanwhile it's great fun watching their plight.

Robert Sheaffer said...

And don't forget, this is the middle of Summer down there.

mousebat said...

I hope they return safely. Now that is out of the way, bwahahaha you lunatics, you didn't believe the satellites and thought you would get a good story about how the Antarctic has not been gaining in extent for 20 years. The game is up, there is no global ice loss, there is no catastrophic anything, man made or not. But there has been catastrophic lying, rent-seeking and corruption and a huge green teat to which a legion of well meaning but zealous devotees suckle and we are paying for the whole monstrous farce.