Antarctic weight gain and other news

After years of being convinced that the Antarctic is melting away, NASA now says its gaining ice, NASA warns that this
is not necessarily good news.

The latest news from NASA on the state of the Antarctic

“According to the new analysis of satellite data, the Antarctic ice sheet showed a net gain of 112 billion tons of ice a year from 1992 to 2001. That net gain slowed to 82 billion tons of ice per year between 2003 and 2008.”

That’s good news then? Not so fast there is a sting in the tail.

“The good news is that Antarctica is not currently contributing to sea level rise, but is taking 0.23 millimeters per year away,” Zwally said. “But this is also bad news. If the 0.27 millimeters per year of sea level rise attributed to Antarctica in the IPCC report is not really coming from Antarctica, there must be some other contribution to sea level rise that is not accounted for.” (My bold)

So if there is no contribution to SLR from the Antarctic, the oceans must be rising due to more thermal expansion, ARGO needs more adjusting?

What about the GRACE measurements showing the Antarctic shrinking away?

Meanwhile, other articles of interest this week:

Putin not convinced about AGW. Jo Nova reports that Putin has described AGW as “fraud”. Not the most helpful assessment with COP21 about to start

Altamont wind farm, infamous for its ability to munch through large numbers of eagles, owls and other birds is closing.  Loch Rannoch wind farm proposal has been rejected. The huge 336MW Galloper offshore wind farm off the coast of Suffolk gets the go ahead.

Neonicotinoids not so nasty after all. A data review has concluded that there is little effect on honey bees, however Bumble bees could be at risk, however there is insufficient evidence to be sure. Honey Bees get the headlines & so the funding, Bumble Bees are not so exciting, so haven’t had as much attention.

The low fat diet is dead again. More dietary advice to confuse the general public. Fat is back, for now.