[Andy Mayhew]

An interesting study - I hadn't realised the population had been so large. They finally died out around 4,000 years ago. I wonder when human hunters first turned up there? Or did a phase shift in global climate ~5.2ka (generally attributed to changes in insolation due to a decline in axial tilt, causing amongst other things a shift in the position of the ITCZ and frequency of El Nino events, and a major factor in the end of the African Humid period, and the rise of human civilisation) have an effect?

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-17457561

Wrangel Island:

http://en.wikipedia..../Wrangel_Island

http://fac-staff.sea...web/wrangel.htm

[ldavidcooke]

Hey Andy,

Now that is news, a shift in axial tilt? Every indication is the tilt does not change only the position of the axis and that change is primarily due to gravitational progression related to our diminitive twin, Luna...

[Andy Mayhew]

Only a very slow change in axial tilt - which is ongoing and should be leading to a slight decline in overall global temps over a millenial time scale. It's the only one of the Milankovitch cycles that is currently having much effect on us, hence no imminent ice age

[Bazmundo]

ldavidcooke, on 24 March 2012 - 17:33, said:

Hey Andy,

Now that is news, a shift in axial tilt? Every indication is the tilt does not change only the position of the axis and that change is primarily due to gravitational progression related to our diminitive twin, Luna...

You're thinking of 'nutation' David, the axial tilt is 'obliquity' and varies between 24.5^o and 22.1^o over a 41,000yr period (currently decreasing). As Andy says, it's one of the Milankovitch cycles.

Heads up on the string of supercells to your west mate.

[ldavidcooke]

Hey Baz,

Thanx, I forgot the slight wobble... (Though as to a global (GAT) influence it may at best account for roughly +/-0.15C.)

(As to the pounding, heavy rain squall @ 7-9cm/hr for 20 min. Brief sleet (small hail, roughly thimble tip), with 40km gusts. And the main energy missed us as it split/lifted to clear the Cane Mts, well the "Cane Rise" would be more accurate, to our immediate SSW. So we dodged the worst.., Thanx!)