Where's the Snow

             Ever wonder why there isn’t any snow sticking to the ground outside? During the last few weeks many cities around Dubuque have been experiencing snowfall. Chicago alone got over 12 inches of snow. So why is Dubuque being skipped in this big snow party? 
             Did you know the Arctic Ocean’s ice field could disappear by 2080? This is the kind of ice that’s supposed to stay frozen year round, but during the summer, ice shrank to near record lows. It was 6 percent smaller in 2005 and 2006 than an average 26 years according to NASA. There’s part of the ice that melts and refreezes throughout the year. The melting of the polar ice caps is because of climatic changes and warmer than normal temperatures.
             This winter is predicted to be warmer than the 30-year norm (between 1971 – 2000) but cooler than last year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects warmer than average temperatures across the Pacific Northwest, northern mid Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, and Alaska during December 2006 through February 2007. This prediction however, doesn’t mean there won’t be any winter weather. It’ll just be milder than average with fewer outbreaks of really freezing air.
             However, 2006 won’t beat the all time global records of 1998 or 2005. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says that 1997 - 2005 were the warmest, with 1998 being the hottest. In contrast, NASA believes that 2005 was hotter than 1998. 
             These scientists say that world temperatures are likely climbing because of global warming blamed on human use of fossil fuels in power plants, factories and vehicles.
              “It’s cold, but it starts snowing later and then the snow disappears,” sophomore Iesha Berry answered.
             This winter is unusually warm because of El Niño. El Niño can disrupt weather patterns worldwide. It influences the position and strength of the jet stream over the Pacific Ocean, which affects the winter patterns of precipitation and temperatures across the country.  According to WMO, El Niño will last until spring 2007. Conditions are getting stronger, and water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are more than 1.0 degree C (1.8 degree F) above normal and are expected to increase or remain the same for the next couple of months.
             Climatic changes not only affect the condition of the Earth but also the creatures living on it. The polar bears in the Arctic region are threatened and the food chain is too for example, the fish, which eventually end up on our table, may not be able to adapt to the changing weather.