Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The new normal: Iditarod adapts to climate change by importing snow




As Alaska Warms, the Iditarod Adapts.  (The New York Times, 3/6/2016)
But there it was, four or so inches of dirty snow with the consistency of sand, dumped overnight by trucks onto a downtown street for the 85 teams of sled dogs and drivers, called mushers, to parade through for the race’s ceremonial start Saturday morning. The parade was only three miles long instead of the usual 11 because, despite the train delivery of tons of snow from Fairbanks, there still was not enough to go around.

Arctic sea ice extent is flirting with a new record-low maximum. Wide expanses of dry grass exposed on snowless ground are raising concerns about early wildfires. Ski races are being canceled or converted into contests of repeated circuits on a loop of manmade snow.



Other climate change posts: 
The Marshall Islands and climate change: "We're talking about something that's happening NOW" .  (12/2/2015)
Monthly global temperature record broken for 6th month in a row.  (11/18/2015)
The world continues to set a record pace in its warm ways.  (10/28/2015)
Cold enough for you?  (3/9/2014)

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