Neven, Those holes are within 400 kms from the Pole!

USCGC Healy is on the move again, are we going to see her in the Polar Region this season? Would be nice with some web cam images! http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=NEPP

Kris, I believe it is a stretch of open water?

DingoJoe, Yes there is definitely a lot on the move in that area, and it will be interesting to see how it all looks like in September. Did you notice that big piece of ice just south of Shannon Island, how it blowed into to smaller pieces in the last 24 hours?

Artful Dodger, Thanks, because I did not any clouds neither, that made me suspicious!

Philip, Yes I know the ice breaks up in the area, but not this early, you are comparing day 248 with day 213, and the result last year was the ice stayed as it normally do, but this year I am pretty sure it will be far a way in the sea somewhere on day 248.

Petermann Glacier: We may have a new calving potential looking from this 250m Modis orbit swath image, there is a marking across I never noticed before it is about 5 - 10 km behind the new edge: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/imagery/single.cgi?image=crefl1_143.A2012212182500-2012212183000.250m.jpg

Not surprised same national background;-)

Hi Bernard, Yes the fast ice in Jøkelbugt is on the move now, it is the first time since 2004 - 5 I believe, it is not happening each year, normally this fast ice dont block the "Fram Export", and the Fram situation has been very stationary for the last 2 weeks. It will be interesting to watch if there are any reactions from the 2 Giant Glacier 79th and Zachariae, since there is no sea/fast ice to stop an eventually calving. This area (Jeokelbugt) is probably also where you will find the biggest differences of many since 2007, so I will suggest you to watch this area for next month, there could some big actions!

Hi Nightvid Cole If you are going by Kayak, turn left just before the last block ( Bank Island) down Prince of Wales Strait and you will find Beaufort Sea!

Jøkelbugt North East Greenland: The big action these hours is happening in front of the giant glaciers Zachariae and 79 Fjords Glacier, the pack of ice in the bay is now in the process of departing from the scene, and it will be interesting to watch if the the Giant 79th will do her her move or if she is to shy to make a real move ,it looks like some pressure is mounting in front of her, so guys be prepared!

Rob, Or he may become a re convert?

Seke Rob : http://psc.apl.washington.edu/northpole/

"transport stagnation in Fram or flat flash melt as mentioned" I believe the Fram transport system pace is very reduced pt. the web cams # 1 -2 at the "pole" are parked at 84.145 and did only move very little over the last 2 weeks.

I would rather say looks like cottage cheese.

Jøkelbugt North East Greenland: I reported yesterday that within a week the the last real fast ice in all of Greenland will be broken up, I withdraw that, we are only hours away from the big break up, have a look: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/imagery/single.cgi?image=crefl2_143.A2012210055500-2012210060000.250m.jpg

Is he out for a drink?

I am happy to be just an amateur in this field, so I am not in any way depending on funds, but I am aware of so called scientists who are not telling the world what I and many others could tell. Science is too commercialized today, I do not trust them either, sorry! But I am happy to be a "non expert", and for some time I can say what I think, but for how long, time will tell?

Jøkelbugt, North East Greenland: The only sizeable fast ice left in all of Greenland, will very soon be broken up, the ice is thinning and holes are appearing inside the remaining consolidated ice, I believe within a week it will be gone, more or less.Interesting to watch whether the "lagoons" in front of 79 and Zachariae will be open too? http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/imagery/single.cgi?image=crefl2_143.A2012209051000-2012209051500.250m.jpg

The opening of the North East and North West passages this season will probably not be many days apart.

I was interviewed by the national radio this morning about ice and icebergs and the quote of the day was : The best action film ever, but in super slow motion!

When the clouds disappear north of Norway, we will again see that spectacular algae show, as we did last year.

It looks like the first snow at the Web cams since summer solstice: http://psc.apl.washington.edu/northpole/NPEO2012/9.jpg

Andreas, "I described the Petermann calving to some media folks as a gentle and very quiet affair similar to a rubber duckie pushed out to sea from the deck of a flat pool." I don't agree with you it is a "quiet affair", when ice break you can definitely hear it, and the sound is not comparable with anything else, but I agree, it was/is not the tsunami kind of break of you see elsewhere like at Humboldt, and it well illustrated with the Modis images, the ice in front of the calved ice did not move a lot.

Andreas, Amazing stuff, now I understand they didn't need Modis, internet and whatever, the description tells it all (nearly), but what triggers me most is, they were in for a Real Rock Concert up there, anyone who ever heard ice cracking must understand what it sounds like up in those tunnels (fjords) and with that amount of ice (at that time) it must have been a f...... great show!