1979及2000年的Penny冰帽(加拿大)

Penny冰帽(Penny Ice Cap)是加拿大最南端的大冰帽，位於Baffin島，高度可達約1,900公尺。就像其他北半球的冰川及冰帽，Penny冰帽正逐漸變薄，而且河谷冰川也在近數十年內縮減。2004年一項針對此地進行的研究，利用美國太空總署(NASA)1995及2000年的航空雷射流任務所獲得的資料顯示，冰帽的高度以每年1公尺的速度在降低，然而，科學家並不確定氣候變遷(全球暖化)及小冰期(Little Ice Age)結束以來對冰帽的衰退各造成多少程度的影響。

這兩張由NASA對地衛星所拍攝的影像為Penny冰帽北端在1997年(上圖)及2000年(下圖)的情形。有幾項訊息可以明顯地在這兩張夏季拍攝的影像上觀察到：1979年8月被冰封的湖，在2000年完全融化為水；照片右側的河谷冰川往河谷方向分叉成兩分支，而位於冰川末端的大湖內，1979年還滿佈著浮冰，到了2000年則完全消失。

雖然一些在Penny冰帽的變化發生地十分緩慢，但經過數十年或百年後，其他的變化就會變得十分明顯。2008年盛夏之際，在Penny冰帽所位處的Auyuittuq國家公園(Auyuittuq National Park)內，持續兩週空前的高溫，伴隨雨水降在冰雪和永凍層上，造成公園南邊有大量融水湧出，不但沖垮了一座橋，所引發的侵蝕及地滑(由於永凍層的融化)破壞了一部份的步道。

參考文獻

Abdalati, W., Krabill, W., Frederick, E., Manizade, S., Martin, C., Sonntag, J., Swift, R., Thomas, R., Yungel, J., and Koerner, R. (2004). Elevation changes of ice caps in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Journal of Geophysical Ressearch, 109, F04007.

NASA影像是由Jesse Allen利用馬里蘭大學(University of Maryland)全球土地覆蓋數據數據庫(Global Land Cover Facility, GLCF)及美國地調所(United States Geological Survey)所提供的對地衛星資料繪成。由Rebecca Lindsey完成圖說。感謝NASA哥達德太空飛行中心(Goddard Space Flight Center) Claire Parkinson協助影像解釋。

原文  http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=18154

Han's Joke

Here is Han's another joke although last Sat. when I released him for a little break, he run out the field. It made me angry that I didn't mention he would be out of control like that. Okey! I should recall the funny thing that makes me smile.

Aug. 31 night, when I took Han home, we met Rainbow's masters (Rainbow is a four-month-old female golden-retriever). Han treated them as old friends whom have not seem for a long time and he even laid down on the street. I told them maybe sometimes they can take Rainbow to our lab to let them two cute dogs play together. (Actually, they took Rainbow to my lab next night that's Han's fourth birthday!!) It was a little late, so after about 15minutes, we said goodbye to each other.

On the way we went home, there is a guy took a bowl of instant noodles with him just several steps ahead. Han was so happy to see him and trying to say hello in his special way--jumping and biting someone. I stopped him even though the guy looked like to say hello to Han too, but he soon realized that Han is an over excited dog!! ^^: I took Han across the street, but he still was excited about approaching the guy over the street. I yelled "what are you doing?" to stop him, and the guy said "I just want to get across the street." with a scared tone. ^^:

Do you like this one? There's another one. I'll tell you later......:-)

Han's Diary 20080903

上個星期天晚上(8/31)，志偉心血來潮帶小馯去校園逛了至少半個小時，回來後，志偉去拿開水要給他喝，就在這個空檔，這小傢伙不停地在實驗室穿梭，我心裡才在納悶，明明他看起來很累，為何一點都不喘，很安靜地在實驗室裡繞來繞去。我怕他熱，還說要開電扇給他吹，他就在我腳邊躺了下來。忽然這傢伙的嘴巴動呀動的，就奇怪沒給他東西吃，為啥吃東西吃的津津有味，喝令他吐出來，你猜是啥?竟然是雞骨頭！！一邊覺得他亂吃東西，一邊又覺得這傢伙真是老實的可愛，從外頭叼了美味的骨頭回來卻沒有偷偷吃掉，硬是在我面前表演！看樣子～小馯還得跟小馱多學學，才能享受打野食的樂趣！哈～

9/1是小馯的生日，煮了紅蘿蔔排骨湯幫他祝壽一下！雖然我覺得他不太懂為何有大餐可以吃，還真感謝這個小朋友常帶給我們生活裡不停的爆笑效果。喔！～晚上rainbowl小妹終於出現了，一隻只有四個月大的小黃金，跟小馯玩得不亦樂乎。小馯多了個小小玩伴囉！