‘Unusually Thick Ice’ in Antarctica Traps Scientists With Unusually Thick Heads

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It probably seemed like an excellent idea: Load a bunch of tourists and journalists aboard a ship for an expedition to Antarctica in December (the height of summer at the South Pole) so they can see for themselves how global warming is melting the ice.

Alas, somebody forgot to tell the ice that “the science is settled”:

Most of the passengers and some of the crew stranded on a scientific expedition ship off Antarctica will be evacuated by a Chinese helicopter should the weather allow, Russian authorities say.
“A decision has been reached to evacuate 52 passengers and four crew members by helicopter from China’s Xue Long ship, should the weather allow,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Russian-flagged MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been stuck on an ice field since last week with 74 people on board. The multinational passenger list includes scientists as well as tourists and crew.
Snow gusts that severely hampered visibility on Monday forced the icebreaker Aurora Australis to turn around, passengers aboard the stricken MV Akademik Shokalskiy had been told to prepare for the “worst case scenario”. . . .
The expedition is being led by University of NSW Professor Chris Turney who continues to post updates on social media.

Try not to laugh at their ridiculous misfortune:

After nearly a week trapped by deep Antarctic ice, the 74 passengers aboard an expedition vessel could soon be freed.
An Australian icebreaker ship Aurora Australis is 28 nautical miles away from the Russian-flagged Akademik Shokalskiy and is waiting for snow showers to pass, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
The Aurora Australis needs better visibility before trying to break through the ice and reach the stranded vessel.
This attempt follows the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, which was just six nautical miles away from the trapped vessel when it couldn’t get any closer due to unusually thick ice.

Via Memeorandum, with more blog commentary by Doug Powers at MichelleMalkin.com, Weasel Zippers and Pirate’s Cove.

Special thanks to Susan Rector on Twitter for the joke I stole.

 

60 comments

  7. The only thing that could possibly be better is if Whale Wars morons rammed and killed an injured baby orphan whale. On camera. With drunk Captain Paul at the wheel.

  8. Hear tell they’re gonna rename this vessel the “MV Donner Party” if that Chinese chopper can’t reach ’em…

  9. Newly revealed secret computer projections reveal that it’s not really ice, it’s really denial suspended in a crystalline medium…

    The projections have to be true, they were derived from Al Gore’s shoe size and the average carbon impact of bottled water in the Congo.

    (can you tell I’ve been doing this for a while?)

  16. There was an interview with the Captain this morning in which he expressed his unflagging belief that the ice caps are melting due to AGW.

    Weather permitting, they should airlift off all those who have learned their lesson and promise not to say or do stupid things in the future, and leave the rest to be eaten by polar bears, which are also not being decimated by melting ice.

  35. If there was any justice in the world, the only helicopter allowed to rescue these morons would be battery powered.

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