“The images on the left are Envisat ASAR mosaics of Arctic ice acquired on 24 August 2005 and August 24, 2006 respectively. (Courtesy: Polar View) The images on the right are EOS Aqua AMSR-E ice concentrations acquired on the same days. (Courtesy: Leif Toudal Pedersen).

The uniform grey area in the upper ASAR image and the pink colour in the upper AMSR-E image are both consistent all the way around the pole (black hole), indicating pack ice with 100% ice concentration. In the lower images, there is a significant extent of leads – fractures and openings in the sea-ice cover – just below the pole in both the ASAR image, seen as splashes of dark grey and black, and the AMSR-E image (with British Isles shown for scale), seen by the high concentration of yellow, orange and green colours, signifying low ice concentrations.”

So if there is a global warming hype conspiracy, it would now have to be an international one that truly strains the credibility of our current administration.