Different sea ice conditions: 1939/40 & 2009/10.

A matter of naval war?

Prepared on 15^th February 2010 (Top-right image – SST 14. Feb. 2010)

Excerpt from Wikipedia, Feb.15, 2010: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_of_2009%E2%80%932010_in_Europe

“The winter of 2009–2010 in Europe has been unusually cold with atypical snowfalls in several parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In January 2010, the northern half of Europe  experienced one of its coldest winters since 1981–1982. Starting on 16 December 2009 light snowfalls and weather warnings took place. A persistent weather pattern brought cold moist air from the north …. and saw many parts of Europe experiencing heavy snowfall and record low temperatures. “

From Admiral Danish Fleet Report 13/Feb./2010:

http://forsvaret.dk/SOK/eng/National/Ice/Ice_Reports/Pages/2010-02-13.aspx

Kattegat:There are areas thin open drift ice, new ice and pancake ice overall in Kattegat. Along east facing coastlines and in sheltered bay and inlets there are close drift ice, new ice and fast ice up to about 30 cm thick. Belt sea the Sound and western Baltic:There are areas with close to open drift ice and fast ice up to about 50 cm thick.

COMMENT: The winter 2009/2010 is one of the coldest since WWII, but the sea ice conditions in the Baltic Sea and Kattegat are very different. The sea ice in winter 1939/40 was one of the most severe, and the first year after 1883 with the highest ice cover possible, while the current sea ice conditions are modest in comparison. What is the reason? Was naval war the cause in 1939/40?    

Chapter: 2_17

Book Page: 88b

File: 933x_Baltic_SeaIce

Image: 2010/www.seaclimate.com